Volatile constituents of the leaves and flowers of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra

The flower and leaf oil of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (Guttiferae, Hypericoideae) from Calabria (Italy) were studied by GC and GC-MS. The major components identified in each oil were n-nonane (8%, 15%), beta-pinene (8%, 4%), a-pinene (13%, 10%), myrcene (16%, 5%), beta-caryophyllene (5%, 11%), germacrene-D (10%, 13%), sabinene (13%, 3%) and caryophyllene oxide (5%, 12%) in the leaf and flower oils, respectively. The aerial parts of the same plant were also analysed by SPME. The SPME analysis showed higher yields of undecane (14%, 10%) and beta-caryophyllene (14%, 10%) in comparison with the corresponding hydrodistillation oils, in addition to a-pinene, beta-pinene, sabinene and myrcene, amounting to (9%, 6%), (7%, 4%), (1%, 9%), (1%, 10%) for the leaves and flowers, respectively. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.