Phytochemical studies of food, aromatic and medicinal plants from the Mediterranean region

This work deals with the chemical composition of volatiles from several plants by GC-MS analysis. Two methods were employed for volatile extraction: headspace coupled with solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) to obtain the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) spontaneously emitted by plants and the hydrodistillation to give the essential oils (EOs). In the Chapter 1, the aroma profile of distinct plant parts from eleven edible species (Rubus ulmifolius Schott, Rhus coriaria L., Punica granatum L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’, Ziziphus jujuba Miller, Launaea cornuta (Hochst. Ex Oliv. & Hiern) C. Jeffrei, Tagetes lucida Cav., Artemisia dracunculus L., Artemisia Judaica L.) was determined to contribute to their agronomical, and industrial applications. In the Chapter 4, three Helichrysum species (H. arenarium (L.) Moench, H. nudifolium (L.) Less, H. graveolens (M. Bieb.) Sweet) grown in Italy were analyzed to evaluate their possible ornamental use. Chapter 2 deals with the volatile profile of three species (Dittrichia viscosa L. Greuter, Cistus salvifolius L., Lavandula stoechas L.) grown in an abandoned mining site of Elba Island (Italy) to stablish their resistance/ adaption to this compromised environment in comparison with the same plants grown in not contaminated area. Another investigation reported in the Chapter 5 was performed to improve the essential oils extraction of two aromatic plants (Foeniculum vulgare Miller and Myristica fragrans Houttuin) by adding different ionic liquids to the maceration step, before distillation. Finally, the Chapter 3 treats on phytochemical screening of Bituminaria basaltica Miniss., C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso & Sciandr., a new Italian species, endemic from Filicude Isle (Sicily) was carried out to collaborate for its chemotaxonomic characterization. In this study the aerial parts of B. basaltica were extracted by Soxhlet apparatus with solvents of increasing polarity and the obtained extracts were purified by different chromatographic techniques. Then, the isolated compounds were identified by spectroscopic method, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and by comparison with previous literature data. The chemical composition of essential oil extracted from aerial parts of B. basaltica was evaluated too.