Abstract
The volatile fraction from vegetative aerial parts and inflorescences of Nigritella nigra (L.) Rchb. F. (Orchidaceae) collected in Val Varrone (Orobie Alps, Italy) was isolated by steam distillation and analysed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The oil yield was 0.2% and 0.9% (weight/fresh weight bases) for leaves and inflorescences, respectively. Several classes of compounds were detected, including alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, acids and terpenes. Volatiles from inflorescences were characterized by higher concentrations of alcohols, of which benzyl alcohol (28.9% of the total oil, 246.8 μg/g) and 2-phenylethanol (10.4%, 89.1 μg/g) were the most represented. Leaves were instead characterized by phenylacetaldehyde as the major constituent, quoted as 14.7% (24.0 μg/g) of the total volatiles, followed by linear chain saturated hydrocarbons, a class of compounds representing 40.1% (65.6 μg/g) of the total oil. The presence of vanillin, revealed in inflorescences only and quantified in this plant organ as 0.8% (6.5 μg/g) of the total volatiles, seems to be related to the typical chocolate-like fragrance characteristic of the flowers of this species.
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