title: Headspace volatile composition of the flowers of Caralluma europaea N.E.Br. (Apocynaceae).
abstract: The volatile constituents of the flowers of Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br (Apocynaceae) from Lampedusa Island were analyzed by a headspace GC method. The analyses allowed the identification and quantification of 41 compounds. The main components were, among the monoterpenoids, terpinolene (23.3%), alpha-terpinene (19.1%) and linalool (18.4%), whereas, among the carbonylic compounds the major constituents were heptanal (2.0%), octanoic acid (2.4%) and hexanoic acid (1.7%). The presence of a nitrogen containing compound, indole (0.8%) and of a sulphur containing compound, dimethylsulphide (t), noteworthy. The compounds found in the flowers of C. europaea have been compared with data available in the literature as regard to their odor, presence in other sapromyiophilous taxa, possible role as semiochemicals, and presence in decaying organic matter. 89.3% of total constituents have been described in other sapromyiophilous taxa. Some of the compounds are present in several types of decaying organic matter (excrements, decomposing bodies, and spoiled fish, etc). Several volatiles found in C. europaea flowers are used as semiochemicals by Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and other insects. Sixteen volatiles, accounting for 32.4% of the total constituents, are described as attractants of some Diptera families, with a biology linked to decaying organic matter. Our data thus confirm that C. europaea floral bouquet falls within the sapromyiophilous pollination syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Senatore
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Porta
authors.forename: Mariarosa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scognamiglio
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosselli
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajeva
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002210:Caprylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000447:Aldehydes; D002208:Caproates; D002210:Caprylates; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D007211:Indoles; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013440:Sulfides; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C037652:hexanoic acid; C018669:gamma-terpinene; C030374:indole; C046204:heptanal; C018584:linalool; C027009:terpinolene; C031492:octanoic acid; C004784:dimethyl sulfide