Chemical investigation of stem and fruit lipophilic extracts from Juncus maritimus

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to profile the lipophilic extracts of Juncus maritimus, one of the phytochemically less studied species of the Juncus genus, by comparing the aerial parts (stems and fruits) to recognize whether the compounds of interest are similarly distributed between the two organs. Unusual Δ⁷-sterols and ergosterols were present in Juncus maritimus. n-9- and n-7-alkenes were also present in large amounts in the fruits but not detected in the stems. Fatty amides, methyl ketones, n-alkan-2-ols and saturated and unsaturated 1- and 2-monoglycerides are also described. Other more common series of aliphatic compounds such as n-alkanes, n-alkan-1-ols, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkenoic acids and n-alkan-1,3-diols were also semi-quantified. A distinctive profile of phenolic compounds, lignans and primary metabolites was also studied. Trimethylsyl derivatization allowed lignans and phenanthrenoids to be detected. The presence of phenanthrenoids is rarely described in nature and these compounds have mostly been identified in the plant family Juncaceae.