Volatile compositions of three critically endangered and endemic species of the Genus crocus L. (iridiaceae) and comparison with C. sativus L. (Saffron)

Abstract

This study was carried out upon chemical researches of three species Crocus L. that distribute in Central Anatolia (Eskişehir), Turkey. The volatile compounds were obtained by microdistillation of the stylus, stigma-tepal parts of three critically endangered and endemic species of the genus Crocus L., viz. C. chrysanthus (Herb.) Herb., C. antalyensis B. Mathew and C. ancyrensis (Herb.) Maw, and the stylus, stigma parts of C. sativus L. and the volatiles were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS, simultaneously. Ethyl cinnamate (14.8%), heptanal (14%), and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (12.8%) of C. chrysanthus. Hexanal (17.7%), nonanal (17.1%), and undecanal (14.7%) of C. antalyensis. ß-Isophorone (14.4%), heptanal (11.5%), and heneicosane (8.5%) of C. ancyrensis. Safranal (77.9%), ?-isophorone (13.5%), and ß-isophorone (2.2%) were detected as main constituents in sample of C. sativus. In addition, chemical structures of C. ancyrensis, C. chrysanthus and C. antalyensis are given in this study for the first time