Detection of Fungi and Oomycetes by Volatiles Using E-Nose and SPME-GC/MS Platforms

Fungi and oomycetes release volatiles into their environment which could be used for olfactory detection and identification of these organisms by electronic-nose (e-nose). The aim of this study was to survey volatile compound emission using an e-nose device and to identify released molecules through solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME–GC/MS) analysis to ultimately develop a detection system for fungi and fungi-like organisms. To this end, cultures of eight fungi (Armillaria gallica, Armillaria ostoyae, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium poae, Rhizoctonia solani, Trichoderma asperellum) and four oomycetes (Phytophthora cactorum, P. cinnamomi, P. plurivora, P. ramorum) were tested with the e-nose system and investigated by means of SPME-GC/MS. Strains of F. poae, R. solani and T. asperellum appeared to be the most odoriferous. All investigated fungal species (except R. solani) produced sesquiterpenes in variable amounts, in contrast to the tested oomycetes strains. Other molecules such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, esters and benzene derivatives were found in all samples. The results suggested that the major differences between respective VOC emission ranges of the tested species lie in sesquiterpene production, with fungi emitting some while oomycetes released none or smaller amounts of such molecules. Our e-nose system could discriminate between the odors emitted by P. ramorum, F. poae, T. asperellum and R. solani, which accounted for over 88% of the PCA variance. These preliminary results of fungal and oomycete detection make the e-nose device suitable for further sensor design as a potential tool for forest managers, other plant managers, as well as regulatory agencies such as quarantine services.     

Rearranged Calamenene and Eudesmane Sesquiterpenoids from two Chinese Liverworts

Four novel rearranged calamenene sesquiterpenoids, 1 – 4 , and two eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, 5 and 6 , were isolated from the Chinese liverworts Chiloscyphus polyanthus (L.) and Bazzania japonica S. (Lac .) Lindb . Their structures and relative configurations were determined by chemical derivatization and in‐depth spectroscopic methods, especially 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR as well as HR‐MS analyses.     

Ring-closing olefin metathesis reactions; synthesis of iso-β-bisabolol

A ring-closing olefin metathesis is the key step in a synthesis of the rare iso-β-bisabolol found in sandalwood oils.     

Structures of six new compounds from Ligularia brassicoides

Four new eremophilane type sesquiterpenoids, a new bakkane type sesquiterpenoid, and a new secoeremophilane type sesquiterpenoid were isolated from Ligularia brassicoides Hand.-Mass. (Asteraceae) collected in China, and were an epoxy lactone derived from 6-acyloxyeuryopsin 1, 6-acyloxy-9-oxoeuryopsin 2, 6-acyloxy-9-oxofuranoeremophilane 3, 6-acyloxyeuryopsin 4, 6-acyloxy bakkane type epoxy lactone 5, and secovirgaurenol 6-O-(2′-hydroxymethyl)acrylate (6), respectively. All but one had a 2′-hydroxymethylacryloyloxy group at C-6. This is the first study to describe the chemical constituents of this species.     

Two New Guaiane Sesquiterpenes from the Fruits of Daucus carota

Two new sesquiterpenes, 11‐(acetyloxy)torilolone ( 1 ) and 1β‐hydroxytorilolone ( 2 ) were obtained from the fruits of Daucus carota. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidence.     

Study on essential oils from the leaves of two Vietnamese plants: Jasminum subtriplinerve C.L. Blume and Vitex quinata (Lour) F.N. Williams

The essential oil constituents of the leaves of Jasminum subtriplinerve (Oleaceae) and Vitex quinata (Verbanaceae) cultivated in Vietnam were analysed by gas chromatography – flame ionisation detector (GC–FID) and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC–MS) techniques. The main constituents identified in J. subtriplinerve were mainly oxygenated monoterpenes represented by linalool (44.2%), α-terpineol (15.5%), geraniol (19.4%) and cis-linalool oxide (8.8%). The quantitative significant components of V. quinata were terpene hydrocarbons comprising of β-pinene (30.1%), β-caryophyllene (26.9%) and β-elemene (7.4%). The chemical compositions of the essential oils are being reported for the first time.     

Novel illudalane sesquiterpenes from Encephalartos villosus Lehm. antimicrobial activity

Phytochemical investigation of Encephalartos villosus Lehm. leaves afford two new illudalane sesquiterpenes namely Encephaldiene 1 and Encephaldiene 2 together with four known flavone glycosides, Luteolin-7-rutinoside, Luteolin-7-glucoside, Luteolin-7-rhamnoside and Apigenin-7-glucoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments along with HRESIMS spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity of CHCl₃ and MeOH extracts was investigated. Both extracts showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia and Bacillus subtilis, and antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus. While CHCl₃ extract showed additional activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli.     

Nine sesquiterpenes from Solanum torvum

Three new sesquiterpenes, namely 3β,11-dihydroxy-4,14-oxideenantioeudesmane (1), 1β,10β,12,14-tetrahydroxy-allo-aromadendrane (2) and 1β,10β,13,14-tetrahydroxy-allo-aromadendrane (3), along with six known sesquiterpenes (4–9), were isolated from the roots of Solanum torvum. Compound 4 and 5 are epimers, their main difference lies in the C-11 configulation. Normally, epimers do not make a huge difference in C NMR spectra, but in this kind of structure of A, B, C rings, and C ring is sterically strained structure, stericall effects influence strongly the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts, when C-11 configulation changed, it makes a huge difference in the three ring of structure, such as C-6, C-7, C-11. New compound 2 and 3 are epimers and similar to compound 4 and 5, their just increase a hydroxy in C-1 and have a same regular pattern in C NMR spectra, otherwise, compound 5 was firstly confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Two new sesquiterpenes from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb

Two new sesquiterpenes, namely, 1β,10β-dihydroxy-eremophil-7(11), 8-dien-12,8-olide (1) and 8,12-epoxy-1β-hydroxyeudesm-3,7,11-trien-9-one (2), together with three known sesquiterpenoids, shizukolidol (3), 4α-hydroxy-5α(H)-8β-methoxy-eudesm-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (4), and neolitacumone B (5), and two known monoterpenes, (3R,4S,6R)-p-menth-1-en-3,6-diol (6) and (R)-p-menth-1-en-4,7-diol (7), were isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis and comparison with those of related known compounds. Compounds 4–7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.     

Identification and synthesis of volatiles released by the myxobacterium Chondromyces crocatus

Cultures of the myxobacterium Chondromyces crocatus on agar plates were analysed by closed-loop-stripping analysis or solid phase micro extraction. The odour profiles consist mainly of pyrazines, sesquiterpenoids and some aromatic compounds, summing up to more than 50 components. Several new pyrazines as 2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-3-methoxypyrazine (9), 2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl)-3-methoxypyrazine (10), and 2-(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)-3-methoxypyrazine (11) were identified besides several known pyrazines. A major pyrazine occurring in most samples was 2,5-bis-(1-methylethyl)pyrazine (3). While the well known sesquiterpenoid geosmin (1) was present in low amounts, the related compound (1(10)E,5E)-germacradien-11-ol (21) was identified in most samples in larger quantities. Other prominent sesquiterpenoids not reported before from microorganisms were (6S,10S)-6,10-dimethylbicyclo[4.4.0]dec-1-en-3-one (16), which was accompanied by smaller amounts of several derivatives. The biosynthesis of these compounds is discussed in relation to the recently proposed biosynthetic pathways to 1 and 21.