Thujene

Abstract: A new method for the enantioselective analysis of essential oils is described, using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). The column set comprised a primary column containing a cyclodextrin derivative as a chiral selector, and a secondary column containing a polyethylene glycol stationary phase. A cryogenic modulation system was used to achieve the GC×GC experiment. The enantiomeric compositions of a number of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes in Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), including -thujene, sabinene, -pinene, -phellandrene, limonene, trans-sabinene hydrate, cis-sabinene hydrate, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and -terpineol are reported. The GC×GC resolution advantage is shown to improve the efficiency of enantioselective essential oil analyses. In a single temperature programmed analysis, the individual antipodes of optically active components can be separated, and are effectively free from matrix interferences.

Abstract: The fruit essential oil of Ferula gummosa boiss., Umbelliferae, which has been used as an antiepileptic remedy in Iranian traditional medicine, was evaluated for anticonvulsant activity against experimental seizures. The essential oil had no effect against seizures induced by maximal electroshock. However, it protected mice against pentylenetetrazole-induced tonic seizures. The protective dose produced neurotoxicity. Moreover, this dose was too close to the LD 50 of the essential oil. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analyses of the essential oil revealed the presence of b pinene (50.1%), a -pinene (18.3%), 3-carene (6.7%), a -thujene (3.3%) and sabinene (3.1%) as the main components. The anticonvulsant and toxic effects of the essential oil may be related to the compounds pinene and a -thujene respectively that present in the essential oil. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 69-72, 2001

Abstract: Volatile components of European and American cranberries were studied by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 70 components were identified, corresponding to about 16.1 ppm and 3.7 ppm of the total volatile oil, in European and American cranberries, respectively. The aroma of cranberries is characterised by the presence of several aromatic compounds together withα-terpineol. More than 35 compounds not reported previously as cranberry volatiles were identified. These included terpinolene, p-mentha-1,8-diene, thujene, p-mentha-1,8-diol, carvenone, 1-phenylethanol, 3-phenylpropan-1-ol,trans-cinnamyl alcohol, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanol, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl) ethanol, salicylaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 3-phenylpropanal,trans-cinnamaldehyde, vanillin, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, 4-methoxyacetophenone, 4-(4-hydroxphenyl)butan-2-one, 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)butan-2-one, methyl cinnamate, 2-phenylethyl formate, and someγ-andα-lactones. p-Methan-1,8-diol (terpin hydrate) has not been identified in any berries or fruits. In general, the concentrations of the individual components in European cranberries were 4–5 times higher than in American berries.