Quantity and composition of epicuticular leaf wax of Euphorbia dendroides L. was examined. The wax contained rt-alkanes, wax esters, aldehydes, fatty acids and primary alcohols. In addition to these common epicuticular wax constituents several triterpenoids and benzoic acid esters were found. The triterpenols β-amyrin and lupeol occurred free as well as esterified with long chain fatty acids. The ketones Δ 12-oleanen-3-one and lupen-3-one have also been identified.
The epicuticular leaf waxes from E. characias, E. nicaeensis and E. peplus were found to contain pentacyclic triterpenoids in great amounts in addition to the common lipid wax constituents: alkanes, wax esters, aldehydes, primary alcohols and fatty acids. The gross amount of triterpenoids were triterpenols, however, their acetates and fatty acid esters as well as the corresponding ketones were found, too. Distinctive variations in the occurrence of 13 triterpenoids α- and β-amyrin, lupeol, germanicol, α-fernenol, simiarenol, β-amyrinone, lupenone, lupeol acetate, lupeol esters, α- and β-amyrin esters and α-fernenol esters were observed. Therefore all Euphorbia species showed very species specific compositions concerning these triterpenoids.
The chemical composition of the leaf surface wax of Euphorbia lathyris L. was analysed using TLC, GC, GC-MS and NMR. A predominance of pentacyclic triterpenoids and primary alcohols was observed. They together constituted 60% of the total wax. Seven triterpenols: taraxerol, β-amyrin, lupeol, isomotiol, a-fernenol, simiarenol. Ψ-taraxasterol and eight triterpenones: taraxerone, β-amyrinone, lupenone, isomotione, a- and β-fernenone, simiarenone and filicanone were isolated. Among them , β-amyrin and lupeol were found esterified with homologous series of fatty acids. The minor part of wax was formed by long chained and predominantly saturated alkanes, wax esters, aldehydes and free fatty acids.
The epicuticular wax of Euphorbia cyparissias contains pentacyclic triterpenoids (34%) and primary alcohols (31%) as major com ponents. The major triterpenoids are triterpenols (23%) consisting of α-and β-amyrin, glutinol, 24-m ethylenecycloartenol and ψ-taraxasterol. The triter penones (10.5%) are com posed of taraxerone. a -and β-amyrinone, lupenone, glutinone, ψ-taraxasterone, β-fernenone and three further unidentified triterpenes. α-Amyrin was found esterified with hom ologous series of fatty acids. Minor components are alkanes, wax esters, aldehydes and free fatty acids.
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