The composition of the headspace from fragrant flowers: Further results

Abstract

The fragrance given off by certain springtime flowers was the subject of a previous communication. We now present the results from further analyses of flower headspaces from cultivated and wild plants (including trees), which bloom at the end of spring and in summer in the Grasse region: Sambucus nigra L. (elder), Ligustruni ovalifolium (privet), Ligustrum vulgare L. (common-privet), Ailantus glandulosa Desf., Magnolia grandifloru L. and Trachelospermum jasminoides. We bring further information about the composition of the headspace from Philadelphus coronarius L. flowers (seringat), which were only briefly reported in our first communication.We confirm that the odoriferous emissions from flowers contain some chemical substances which are not readily detected in the corresponding extraction or hydrodistillation products. Such constituents include, for example, terpenoids and aliphatic amino acid derivatives, some of which may be considered as new natural products.

Floral Scent Production in Clarkia (Onagraceae) (I. Localization and Developmental Modulation of Monoterpene Emission and Linalool Synthase Activity)

“…Most of these compounds are either terpenoids, benzenoid compounds, or acyl lipid derivatives (Croteau and Karp, 1991). Although perfumers still survey natural sources for novel fragrance compounds (Joulain, 1987;Kaiser, 1991), this information is most often used in directing organic syntheses to imitate natural fragrances or create new combinations. Thus, although the structures of many floral scent compounds are known, very few studies have focused on the biosyntheses of these compounds in the plant cell.…”

Chemical fingerprinting of the volatile fraction of species-specific floral Australian honeys

“…al., 1986) is attributed to this compound, and it is also present in the flowers of Mimusops elingi L. (Sapotaceae) (Wong and Teng, 1994), and wine (Sakato et al, 1975;Brock et al, 1984). Another floral phenylbutanoid, l-phenylbutane-2,3-dione, which is a constituent of the common privet (Joulain, 1987) and Mimusops elingi L. (Sapotaceae) flowers (Wong and Teng, 1994) Importantly, 1,4-dihydroxybenzene (hydroquinone) is a floral source descriptor for New Zealand viper's bugloss honey (Wilkins et al, 1995b). Other additional 4-substituted volatile benzene derivatives that are constituents of viper's bugloss honey are 4-methoxyphenol, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (Wilkins et al, 1995b).…”

“…These three phenylbutanoids 45, 56, and 59 are volatile components of certain flowers; l-phenylbutane-2,3-dione (45) is a component of the common privet (Joulain, 1987) and Mimusops elingi L. (Sapotaceae) flowers (Wong and Teng, 1994), while 3-hydroxy-4-phenylbutan-2-one being a component of and Mimusops elingi L. (Sapotaceae) flowers (Wong and Teng, 1994), and wme (Sakato et al, 1975;Brock et al, 1984) and "wisteria (Awano et al, 1995;Watanabe et. al., 1986) along with 1-phenylbutane-2,3-diol (59), and are of botanical origin.…”

“…Acetylphenylcarbinol (79) was assigned on the basis of comparison with a published mass spectrum (Joulain, 1987). Acetylphenylcarbinol is a floral component of privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) (Joulain, 1987).…”

“…Acetylphenylcarbinol is a floral component of privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) (Joulain, 1987). Few other neutral benzene derivatives found in most other Australian honeys were components of bloodwood honey (Table 4.7), eg.…”