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.

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.