The chemical composition of hexane extract from bark of Juniperus brevifolia

Abstract

The phytochemical analysis of the bark of Juniperus brevifolia was undertaken for the first time. The GC–MS analysis of the hexane extract from bark of “cedro-do-mato” (J. brevifolia) allowed to identify three rare compounds for the first time in Juniperus genus: 6,7-dehydroferrugin-12-methyl ether, 11-hydroxy-6,7-dehydroferruginol and 6,7-dehydrohinokiol. The results also showed that the chemical composition of the extract were essentially abietane-type diterpenoids with alcohol function (44.9%) and with carbonyl function (8.6%). Fatty acids such palmitic, oleic, stearic and docosanoic acids were the second most abundant family of identified compounds (9.5%) and its value increased (12.7%) after alkaline hydrolysis, mainly due to docosanoic and tetradocosanoic acids. Sterols like sitosterol and stigmast-4-en-3-one, were also present (6.6%), along with esters of sterols (8.4%). Significant quantities of the long-chain aliphatic alcohols (ca 3.7%) were identified in the hexane extract only after alkaline hydrolysis.

Keywords:

• Juniperus brevifolia
• Bark
• Diterpenes
• 11-Hydroxy-6,7-dehydroferruginol
• 6,7-Dehydroferrugin-12-methyl ether
• 6,7-Dehydrohinokiol

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, FCT-Lisbon and FEDER for funding the Research Unit “Química Orgânica, Produtos Naturais e Agroalimentares”.