High-performance liquid chromatography of water-soluble phenolics in leaf litter of three Eucalyptus hybrids (Congo)

Leaf litter from beneath three Eucalyptus hybrids of economic importance for Congo were examined for water-soluble phenolics (101-126 mg Tannic acid equivalents g(-1) dry matter). Phenolics identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) included gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, gentisic, p-coumaric, caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, hydroquinone, and vanillin. Unidentified compounds were also present in all extracts. Differences between hybrids were quantitative; qualitative differences were not observed in the water extracts. E. urograndis had lower concentrations of gallic acid, but higher hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic, and ferulic acids) than the E. PF1 hybrid. Implications of these differences are discussed according to literature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.