A chemotaxonomic approach to the alkane content of three species of Anthocleista Afzel. (Loganiaceae)

Abstract

The chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes was studied in three species of Anthocleista Afzel. Identification of alkane components were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography -mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data. In all, fourteen alkanes were identified, ranging from tetracosane (C 24 H 50 ) to heptriacontane (C 37 H 76 ). Tetracosane, pentacosane and heptriacontane were the major components in all the three species of Anthocleista. A. djalonensis and A. vogelii were characterized by high percentages of tetracosane (28.81 and 39.14%, respectively), whereas in A. nobilis heptriacontane (C 37 H 76 ) was the major component being 24.76%. Significant correlation between A. djalonensis and A. vogelii (r = 0.884 and p = 0.000) at 0.01 implies a probable closeness between these species. However, the result obtained in this study provides further evidence of chemotaxonomic significance