Identification of Volatile Constituents from the Flower Oil of Spartium junceum

Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR, Nov/Dec 2004 by Miraldi, Elisabetta, Ferri, Sara, Giorgi, Gianluca

As can be seen in Table I, hydrocarbons were the main components of the oil; in fact tricosane (22.9%), tetracosane (8.9%) and pentacosane (16.1%) constituted altogether almost 48% of total oil composition. These compounds are widely diffused in the vegetable kingdom (18).

As is well known, volatiles constitute an important aspect governing the sensitivity of the insects in host selection. Kairomonal compounds, like tricosane, tetracosane and pentacosane, are host-seeking stimulants for the egg parasite (19), so that kairomones can be employed in manipulating entomophagous activity in biocontrol programs (20). Analyses of volatiles of cotton flowers revealed that in addition to their nutritional quality, kairomonal compounds act as attractant resources for many of the parasitoids (21).

Octadecanyl acetate (stearyl acetate) was found in a remarkable amount (2.7%); previously, it has been isolated from plants and insects and also from human sebaceous lipids, and it is reported as being used in many cosmetic formulations.

For what concerns the other minor constituents of S. junceum oil, we found tetradecanol (myristic alcohol) and octanol only in traces, while the relative acids have been found in the absolute (10).

The oil composition of S. junceum is of academic interest, with little commercial importance. However, further studies are requested on the quality evaluation of oil of this species in order to determine its commercial application in comparison with its absolute.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by M. U.R.S.T. (Ministero dell'Unwersit� e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica), Rome.

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