Essential Oil Composition of Centaurea atropurpurea and Centaurea orientalis Inflorescences from the Central Balkans – Ecological Significance and Taxonomic Implications. Issue 9 (10th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Novaković, Jelica; Rajčević, Nemanja; Milanovici, Sretco; Marin, Petar D.; Janaćković, Pedja
• Is Part Of: Chemistry & biodiversity. Volume 13:Issue 9(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1221
• Page End: 1229
• Publication Date: 2016-09-10
• Subjects: Centaurea -- Inflorescence essential oil -- Ecology -- Chemotaxonomy -- Multivariate analysis; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biodiversity -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201600029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-1872

Abstract

Abstract : The essential oil composition of Centaurea atropurpurea and Centaurea orientalis flowering heads (capitula) from Central Balkans have been determined by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 121 compounds were identified, representing on average 97.7% of the oil composition. In all samples, sesquiterpenes were most abundant group, representing 53.9 – 74.0% of the total oil. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons dominated in all studied populations of C. orientalis and C. atropurpurea, except C. atropurpurea f. flava in which essential oil was characterized with high level of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The dominant components differed between species, and also between typical C. atropurpurea and C. atropurpurea f. flava . The most abundant compounds of essential oil of C. orientalis were germacrene D and α ‐cadinol. In C. atropuruprea, germacrene D and β‐ caryophyllene were the most abundant, while caryophyllene oxide and β‐ caryophyllene were dominant in C. atropurpurea f. flava oil. Taxonomical and ecological implications are further discussed.