Chemical composition of the leaf oil ofCleistopholis glaucaPierre ex Engler & Diels from Côte d’Ivoire

Plant Natural Sources of the Endocannabinoid (E)-β-Caryophyllene: A Systematic Quantitative Analysis of Published Literature

(E)-β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a natural sesquiterpene hydrocarbon present in hundreds of plant species. BCP possesses several important pharmacological activities, ranging from pain treatment to neurological and metabolic disorders. These are mainly due to its ability to interact with the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) and the complete lack of interaction with the brain CB1. A systematic analysis of plant species with essential oils containing a BCP percentage > 10% provided almost 300 entries with species belonging to 51 families. The essential oils were found to be extracted from 13 plant parts and samples originated from 56 countries worldwide. Statistical analyses included the evaluation of variability in BCP% and yield% as well as the statistical linkage between families, plant parts and countries of origin by cluster analysis. Identified species were also grouped according to their presence in the Belfrit list. The survey evidences the importance of essential oil yield evaluation in support of the chemical analysis. The results provide a comprehensive picture of the species with the highest BCP and yield percentages.

Combined Analysis of the Root Bark Oil of Cleistopholis glauca by Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Techniques

The composition of root bark oil from Cleistopholis glauca Pierre ex Engler & Diels growing wild in Ivory Coast was investigated by GC (in combination with retention indices) and 13C NMR spectroscopy after partition of hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds on silica gel. Thirty-one compounds have been identified. C. glauca produces a sesquiterpene-rich oil, patchoulenone (33.5%), cyperene (9.5%) and germacrene D (6.6%) being the main components. Special attention was paid to the identification and quantification of germacrene C (a heat-sensitive compound) and δ-elemene, which were achieved by a combination of GC(FID) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The composition of C. glauca root bark and leaf oils differed drastically.

Analysis of Cleistopholis patens leaf and trunk bark oils using combined GC- flame ionisation detection, GC-retention index, GC-MS and (13) C-NMR

INTRODUCTION

Germacrenes A-C are secondary metabolites produced by various plants. They are sesquiterpene hydrocarbons bearing the (E,E)-1,5-cyclodecadiene structure known to undergo thermal rearrangement through a [3.3]-sigmatropic reaction. Such a rearrangement was evidenced by comparing the contents of a given germacrene and the corresponding elemene calculated by GC-flame ionisation detection (FID) with the relative intensities of the signals of both molecules in the (13) C-NMR spectrum of the mixture, recorded at room temperature.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a protocol to identify and quantify germacrenes A, B and C and in parallel the corresponding elemenes, using a combination of GC-FID and (13) C-NMR and then provide a correct analysis of Cleistopholis patens essential oils.

METHODS

The essential oil was submitted to GC-FID, GC-retention index, GC-MS and (13) C-NMR analyses. The relative percentages of every couple of germacrene and elemene measured by GC-FID were summed. Then, the relative ratio of the mean intensities of the signals of the protonated carbons of a given germacrene and the corresponding elemene was calculated. The contents of both compounds were obtained by combining GC-FID and (13) C-NMR data.

RESULTS

The true content of germacrene A/β-elemene, germacrene B/γ-elemene and germacrene C/δ-elemene in leaf and root oils from C. patens was evaluated by combination of GC-FID and (13) C-NMR data. Correct analysis of the essential oils was provided.

CONCLUSION

Combined analysis of essential oil including (13) C-NMR without isolation of the components, appeared really efficient to identify and quantify germacrene isomers and in parallel elemene isomers in essential oils.