Composition and biovariability of Deverra scoparia volatile oil and its potential use as a source of bioactive phthalide components

Abstract

Chemical biodiversity of essential oils of natural populations of Deverra scoparia growing in different regions in Algeria, and spreading from of semiarid to Saharan territories, was assessed. More than 60 compounds were identified by GC and GC-MS. Both phenylpropanoids and phathalids classes of bioactive components in leaves part were exhibiting drastic variations: (0.77–59.46%) and (0.04–28.55%), respectively. More specifically, the following bioactive components reached a very high level for this plant species: myristicin “up to 58.19%”, dill apiole “up to 25.52%” and (Z)-ligustilide “up to 27.5%”. Seven major compounds identified for the flowers part were varying from very low to very high percentages: α-pinene (2.49–42.32%), sabinene + β-pinene (1.11–30.31%), α-phellandrene (0.99–20.63%), p-cymene (0.0–44.22%), limonene (0.0–42.99%), myristicin (0.03–58.19%) and dill apiole (0.4–25.52%). Similarly, for the stems part, larges variations of both major and minor components were also registered: α-pinene (17.97–53.25%), sabinene + β-pinene (3.44–24.99%), α-phellandrene (0.75–10.32%), limonene (1.35–59.68%), terpinen-4-ol (0.29–15.85%) and spathulenol (0.46–11.29%). Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster analysis was conducted, showing the existence of two main groups. Obtained data for volatile components in each plant part gave an insight of the existence of simultaneous clear and large biodiversity of the chemical profiles of the studied plant parts.