Phenolic acids distribution in a peat of the relict community with Serbian spruce in the Tara Mt. forest reserve (Serbia)

Restoration of tertiary endemorelict Serbian spruce (Picea omorika Pancic) in forest-peat in Tara Mt., the only such finding in the world is rather poor. This could be partially ascribed to the presence of phenolics in peat soil. Content of total phenols and phenolic acids was determined in peat samples taken from: (1) knolls of forest-peat bog with dominance of trees and between the knolls and (2) peat bog knolls with dominance of Agrostis alba and between the knolls where Sphagnum mosses prevailed. In knoll samples of forest-peat bog where there are conditions for growth and development of trees, the amount of free phenolics was up to three times higher compared to that in the peat-bog knoll samples with dominance of A. alba. Amount of bound phenolics between the knolls of forest-peat bog was significantly higher than that between the knolls of the peat bog. Content of bound phenolics. exceeded that of free ones 1.77-12 times. In the forest-peat bog soil, derivatives of benzoic acid mainly originating from woody plants were dominant, while in peat bog cinnamic acid derivatives, originating from A. alba and Sphagnum mosses prevailed. Our results demonstrate that aerobic conditions in knolls enable a more extensive accumulation of free phenolics, while anaerobic conditions between the knolls result in a higher accumulation of bound phenolics. Content and composition of phenolic compounds depend on dominant plants in phytocoenotic microcomplex, as well as characteristics of the microhabitat. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.nul

Fatty acid composition of seed oil of Phlomis fruticosa growing in Montenegro

Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia [143041, 143049

Essential Oil Variability in Natural Populations of Picea omorika, a Rare European Conifer

This study is the first report on the composition and variability of essential oil in the relic, endemic, and vulnerable free species Serbian spruce, Picea omorika, in its natural populations. In the needles of 108 trees of four natural populations, 49 components of essential oils were identified. The main compounds were bornyl acetate (29.2%), camphene (18.7%), and alpha-pinene (12.9%). Fourteen additional components had the contents of up to 0.5%: alpha-cadinol (6.1%), limonene (5.8%), santene (3.5%), (E)-hex-2-enal (2.9%), T-cadinol (2.9%), delta-cadinene (2.3%), tricyclene (2.1%), myrcenc (1.6%), beta-pinene (1.2%), borneol (0.9%), germacrene D (0.9%), alpha-murolene (0.6%), and two unidentified compounds. Population IV from Milesevka Canyon had a much higher content of bornyl acetate (42.9%). Populations I-III from Mt. Tara were more abundant in sesquiterpenes (up to 18.2%)). The content of bornyl acetate, the multi-variation analyses according to seven selected components, especially the cluster analysis and genetic analysis of alpha-cadinol, which suggested the monogenic type of heredity, showed a clear differentiation of the two geographic areas, the similarity of populations I-III from the area of Mt. Tara, and the separation of the population IV from Milesevka Canyon.nul

Terpene Chemodiversity of Relict Conifers Picea omorika, Pinus heldreichii, and Pinus peuce, Endemic to Balkan

Terpenes are often used as ecological and chemotaxonomic markers of plant species, as well as for estimation of geographic variability. Essential oils of relic and Balkan endemic/subendemic conifers, Picea omorika, Pinus heldreichii, and P. peuce, in central part of Balkan Peninsula (Serbia and Montenegro), on the level of terpene classes and common terpene compounds were investigated. In finding terpene combinations, which could show the best diversity between species and their natural populations, several statistical methods were applied. Apart from the content of different terpene classes (P. omorika has the most abundant O-containing monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes; P. heldreichii and P. peuce have the largest abundance of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons, resp.), the species are clearly separated according to terpene profile with 22 common compounds. But, divergences in their populations were established only in combination of several compounds (specific for each species), and they were found to be the results of geomorphologic, climatic, and genetic factors. We found similarities between investigated species and some taxa from literature with respect to terpene composition, possibly due to hybridization and phylogenetic relations. Obtained results are also important regarding to chemotaxonomy, biogeography, phylogeny, and evolution of these taxa.Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia [173029, 172053, 173011

Chemical Characterization of Lippia Alba Essential Oil: An Alternative To Control Green Molds

The essential oil of Lippia alba is reported as an antifungal against human pathogenic microorganisms but few articles report its use as an alternative to synthetic fungicides on green mould control. The objective of this study was to determine chemical characteristics of L. alba essential oil and its antifungal activity against green molds as an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Essential oil was extracted by Clevenger hydrodistillation, characterized by GC-MS analysis, and the structure of the main compounds confirmed by H-1 and C-13-NMR spectroscopy. Microdilution assays evaluated the essential oil minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Commercial fungicides Ketoconazole and Bifonazole were used as control. Essential oil yield is of 0.15% and the major components are neral (33.32%) and geranial (50.94%). The L. alba essential oil has MIC of 0.300-1.250 mg/mL and MFC of 0.600-1.250 mg/mL. Ketoconazole and Bifonazole show MIC ranging from 0.025-0.500 to 0.100-0.200 mg/mL, and MFC ranging from 0.250-0.100 to 0.200-0.250 mg/mL, respectively. L. alba essential oil is classified as citral type and the results indicate that it is a potential alternative to synthetic fungicides.Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia [173032, 172053]; Paranaense Universit

Needle Essential Oil Composition of Picea omorika VAR. vukomanii

Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia [143049B, 142053

Terpene Chemodiversity of Relict Conifers Picea omorika, Pinus heldreichii, and Pinus peuce, Endemic to Balkan

Terpenes are often used as ecological and chemotaxonomic markers of plant species, as well as for estimation of geographic variability. Essential oils of relic and Balkan endemic/subendemic conifers, Picea omorika, Pinus heldreichii, and P. peuce, in central part of Balkan Peninsula (Serbia and Montenegro), on the level of terpene classes and common terpene compounds were investigated. In finding terpene combinations, which could show the best diversity between species and their natural populations, several statistical methods were applied. Apart from the content of different terpene classes (P. omorika has the most abundant O-containing monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes; P. heldreichii and P. peuce have the largest abundance of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons, resp.), the species are clearly separated according to terpene profile with 22 common compounds. But, divergences in their populations were established only in combination of several compounds (specific for each species), and they were found to be the results of geomorphologic, climatic, and genetic factors. We found similarities between investigated species and some taxa from literature with respect to terpene composition, possibly due to hybridization and phylogenetic relations. Obtained results are also important regarding to chemotaxonomy, biogeography, phylogeny, and evolution of these taxa.Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia [173029, 172053, 173011

Allelopathic potential of Allium ursinum L.

Allium ursinum L. (wild garlic) represents a widely distributed plant species in beech and mixed beech-fir forests of Serbia. It forms dense populations in which the other species are either sparsely present or absent. Its allelopathic influences were studied using both the seeds and seedlings of test plants (lettuce, amaranth and wheat) and by analyzing phenolic acids and total phenolics in the leaves, bulbs and soil. Aqueous extract and volatile compounds of the bulbs were stronger inhibitors of seed germination and seedling growth compared to those of the leaves. The soil and phenolic-containing fraction of the soil under Allium ursinum also inhibited seed germination and growth of test plant seedlings. The bulbs and the leaves were found to contain 2.30 mg/g and 3.24 mg/g (dry weight) of total free phenolics, respectively, and the same amount of bound phenol forms (1.0 mg/g). Among allelopathic matter in bulb and leaf extracts, p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids as free and bound forms were identified (25.43-87.93 mug/g). The soil contained 0.16 mg/g free and 1.61 mg/g total bound phenolics and p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and syringic acids as free (1.00-9.65 mug/g) and bound forms (26.45-44.76 mug/g) were found. These results suggest that A. ursinum influences other herbaceous plants in plant community via soil and volatile compounds which inhibit seed germination and plant growth. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.nul

Allelopathic potential of Allium ursinum L.

Allium ursinum L. (wild garlic) represents a widely distributed plant species in beech and mixed beech-fir forests of Serbia. It forms dense populations in which the other species are either sparsely present or absent. Its allelopathic influences were studied using both the seeds and seedlings of test plants (lettuce, amaranth and wheat) and by analyzing phenolic acids and total phenolics in the leaves, bulbs and soil. Aqueous extract and volatile compounds of the bulbs were stronger inhibitors of seed germination and seedling growth compared to those of the leaves. The soil and phenolic-containing fraction of the soil under Allium ursinum also inhibited seed germination and growth of test plant seedlings. The bulbs and the leaves were found to contain 2.30 mg/g and 3.24 mg/g (dry weight) of total free phenolics, respectively, and the same amount of bound phenol forms (1.0 mg/g). Among allelopathic matter in bulb and leaf extracts, p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids as free and bound forms were identified (25.43-87.93 mug/g). The soil contained 0.16 mg/g free and 1.61 mg/g total bound phenolics and p-coumaric, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and syringic acids as free (1.00-9.65 mug/g) and bound forms (26.45-44.76 mug/g) were found. These results suggest that A. ursinum influences other herbaceous plants in plant community via soil and volatile compounds which inhibit seed germination and plant growth. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.nul

Needle Essential Oil Composition of Picea omorika VAR. vukomanii

Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia [143049B, 142053