Guaianolide Derivatives from the Invasive Xanthium spinosum L.: Evaluation of Their Allelopathic Potential.

Ziniolide, xantholide B (11α-dihydroziniolide), and 11ß-dihydroziniolide, three sesquiterpene lactones with 12,8-guaianolide skeletons, were identified as volatile metabolites from the roots of Xanthium spinosum L., an invasive plant harvested in Corsica. Essential oil, as well as hydrosol and hexane extracts, showed the presence of guaianolide analogues. The study highlights an analytical strategy involving column chromatography, GC-FID, GC-MS, NMR (1D and 2D), and the hemi-synthesis approach, to identify compounds with incomplete or even missing spectral data from the literature. Among them, we reported the 1H- and 13C-NMR data of 11ß-dihydroziniolide, which was observed as a natural product for the first time. As secondary metabolites were frequently involved in the dynamic of the dispersion of weed species, the allelopathic effects of X. spinosum root's volatile metabolites were assessed on seed germination and seedling growth (leek and radish). Essential oil, as well as hydrosol- and microwave-assisted extracts inhibited germination and seedling growth; root metabolite phytotoxicity was demonstrated. Nevertheless, the phytotoxicity of root metabolites was demonstrated with a more marked selectivity to the benefit of the monocotyledonous species compared to the dicotyledonous species. Ziniolide derivatives seem to be strongly involved in allelopathic interactions and could be the key to understanding the invasive mechanisms of weed.

Chemical Composition of the Fruit Oils of Five Fortunella Species Grown in the Same Pedoclimatic Conditions in Corsica (France).

Fruit oil from five species of kumquat (Fortunella japonica, F. margarita, F. crassifolia, F. obovata, and F. hindsii) grown in the same pedoclimatic conditions have been analyzed by a combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The compositions of the five fruit oils were strongly dominated by limonene (84.2-96.3%). Other components present with appreciable contents were myrcene (1.3-12.9%) and germacrene D (0.3-2.4%).

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Corsican Mentha aquatica--combined analysis by GC(RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR spectroscopy.

The essential oil (EO) of M. aquatica L. growing wild in Corsica was isolated by dry vapor distillation and submitted to combined analysis by column chromatography over silica gel, GC(RI), GC-MS and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The composition was dominated byoxygenated monoterpenes and characterized by the occurrence of menthofuran (50.7%) as the major component. In parallel, seven laboratory-distilled oil samples isolated from individual plants collected in Corsica were analyzed by GC(RI) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Onlyquantitative differences were observed between the samples. Beside the usual terpenes, various p-menthane lactones (mintlactone, isomintlactone, hydroxymintlactone, menthofurolactone and epimenthofurolactone) have been identified in all the oil samples.

Composition and chemical variability of Mentha suaveolens ssp. suaveolens and M. suaveolens ssp. insularis from Corsica.

A detailed analysis of two essential oils from individual plants of Mentha suaveolens ssp. suaveolens growing wild in Corsica was carried out by combination of GC(RI), GC/MS, and (13)C-NMR analyses. One oil sample is characterized by the pre-eminence of piperitenone oxide, and the second is dominated by piperitenone. In contrast, it was reported that the essential oil of M. suaveolens ssp. insularis, an endemic species to Corsica and Sardinia, contained pulegone and cis-cis-p-menthenolide as main components. A principal-component analysis (PCA) carried out on the composition of the essential oil of 59 individual plants of M. suaveolens sp. allowed the classification into three well-defined groups. All the oil samples from Mentha suaveolens ssp. insularis belonged to the same group, while the oils from M. suaveolens ssp. suaveolens were distributed in the two other groups. The composition of the essential oil isolated from aerial parts of M. suaveolens ssp. has been shown to be an additional tool to differentiate the botanically close subspecies suaveolens and insularis.

Detailed analysis of the essential oil from Cistus albidus L. by combination of GC/RI, GC/MS and 13C-NMR spectroscopy.

The composition of the essential oil of Cistus albidus (L.) obtained from plants growing wild in Provence (France) has been investigated using GC-RI (RI = retention indices), GC/MS and (13)C-NMR. Eighty-eight components were reported accounting for 81.8% of the essential oil. This essential oil was characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes with alpha-zingiberene (12.8%), alpha-curcumene (7.7%), (E)-beta-caryophyllene (5.9%), alpha-cadinol (5.4%), alpha-bisabolol (4.1%), caryophyllene oxide (3.8%), allo-aromadendrene (3.4%), delta-cadinene (3.4%), and germacrene D (3.1%) being the main components.

Enantiomeric differentiation of oxygenated p-menthane derivatives by 13C NMR using Yb(hfc)3.

The (13)C NMR behaviour of 21 p-menthanic terpene bearing an oxygenated function (alcohol, ketone, acetate) was examined in the presence of a chiral lanthanide shift reagent (Yb(hfc)(3)). For each monocyclic compound, we measured the lanthanide-induced shift (LIS) on the signals of the carbons and the splitting of signals allowing the enantiomeric differentiation. Some general features were found about their LIS behaviour: experimental data establishing distinct patterns for carvomenthone-like compounds and menthone-like compounds. The enantiomeric splitting was observed for the majority of signals in the spectrum of each compound. In the case of alcohols and acetates, the influence of the relative stereochemistry (cis vs trans) of isopropyl(ene) and the binding function was discussed.

Identification and quantitative determination of eudesmane-type acids from the essential oil of Dittrichia viscosa sp. viscosa using 13C-NMR spectroscopy.

A procedure that allows the identification and quantitative determination of eudesmane-type acids in the acidic part of the essential oil of Dittrichia viscosa sp. viscosa is described. The method involves the computer-aided analysis of the 13C-NMR spectrum of the mixture without the requirement of previous separation or derivatisation. The quantitative procedure was verified with costic acid standard and applied to three other acids which possess the same eudesmane framework.

Enantiomeric differentiation of acyclic terpenes by 13C NMR spectroscopy using a chiral lanthanide shift reagent.

The 13C NMR behaviour of ten acyclic terpene alcohols was examined in the presence of a chiral lanthanide shift reagent (CLSR). For each alcohol, we measured the lanthanide-induced shift (LIS) on the signals of the carbons and the splitting of some signals, which allowed the enantiomeric differentiation. As expected, the LIS decreased with the number of bonds between the binding function and the considered carbon. The enantiomeric splitting is observed for several signals in the spectrum of each compound. The influence of the hindrance of the binding function (primary, secondary or tertiary alcohol) and that of the stereochemistry of the double bonds is discussed.