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Abstract
Portlandia (Rubiaceae) is a genus endemic to Jamaica. The volatile organic constituents of P. albiflora, P. coccinea, P. grandiflora, P. latifolia and P. proctorii were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with capillary mass spectrometry. The main constituents detected in these species are 1-penten-3-one, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, linalool, borneol and methyl salicylate. All species are rich in aliphatic aldehydes, mainly represented by (E)-2-hexenal, that range from 17% (P. latifolia) to 90% (P. coccinea) of total volatiles. The high content of aldehydes is characteristic to Portlandia species and may serve as a chemical marker to differentiate Portlandia from related genera within the Rubiaceae.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Yaru Song, Florida International University (FIU), for recording GC/MS spectra. We also specially thank Dr. Suzanna Rose for her support (School of Integrated Science and Humanity, FIU). This is contribution number 265 from the Tropical Biology Program of FIU. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden supported Christopher Chin. Research was performed under the guidelines of the International Convention of Biodiversity. Our gratitude to the National Environment and Planning Agency of the Jamaican Government for the required permits. Fieldwork was supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Dr. Priestap deceased on 9 August 2013. Dr. Priestap will be remembered by us for his outstanding skills as a phytochemist and for his great human values as a colleague.
