title: Essential oil of Plectranthus tenuicaulis leaves from Gabon, source of (R),(E)-6,7-epoxyocimene. An unusual chemical composition within the genus Plectranthus.
abstract: Water distilled essential oils from leaves of Plectranthus tenuicaulis (Hook. f.) J. K. Morton collected in Gabon were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. The main constituent, unusual within the genus Plectranthus, was isolated and formally identified as being the (+)-(R)-enantiomer of (E)-6,7-epoxyocimene [(E)-myroxide]. This enantiomer, which represents about 75% of the essential oil, has been previously identified as a pheromone emitted by the male fruit-spotting bug Amblypelta nitida; this insect is responsible of destruction of most fruit crops in tropical and subtropical areas. The potential application of P. tenuicaulis essential oil in crop protection programs is discussed and the atypical chemical profile of the gabonese essential oil is compared with those previously reported in the genus Plectranthus (or Coleus).
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires de Substances Naturelles et de Synthèse Organométalliques (LASNSOM), Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku B.P. 943, Franceville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Huguette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agnaniet
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrebi
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bikanga
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makani
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lebibi
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Casabianca
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morère
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menut
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005681:Gabon; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D031346:Plectranthus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: C558320:6,7-epoxyocimene; D000475:Alkenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile