Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Based Profiling of Alkyl Coumarates and Ferulates in Two Species of Cattail (Typha domingensis P., and Typha latifolia L.)

Authors

Ding He, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International UniversityFollow
Bernd R.T. Simoneit, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University; Oregon State UniversityFollow
Blanca Jara, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International UniversityFollow
Rudolf Jaffe´, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University,Follow

Abstract

Several long-chain n-alkyl coumarates and ferulates were identified in cattails (Typha domingensis and Typha latifolia) from the Florida Everglades. Characterization of these compounds was achieved based on the interpretation of mass spectra obtained by GCMS as their trimethylsilyl ether derivatives, comparison with published mass spectra and available standards. Both n-alkyl p-coumarates and n-alkyl ferulates were identified in roots and leaves of both Typha species, featuring unique distribution patterns and differences between leaf and root biomass. For both Typha species, roots have higher concentrations and a much greater diversity of n-alkyl p-coumarates and ferulates but with different side chain carbon numbers ranging from C₁₄ to C₂₈. Typha domingensisleaves only contained n-alkyl ferulates with traces of n-alkyl p-coumarates, while both types of compounds were present in Typha latifolia leaf material. These chemicals were not found in the other dominant wetland vegetation, which suggests their potential for application as phytochemical tracers of fresh cattail-derived organic matter in the Everglades ecosystem.

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DEB-1237517, #DBI-0620409, and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

He, D., B.R.T. Simoneit, B. Jara, R. Jaffe. 2015. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry based profiling of alkyl coumarates and ferulates in two species of cattail (Typha domingensis P., and Typha latifolia L.). Phytochemistry Letters 13: 91-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.phytol.2015.05.010