Chemical composition of the essential oils from leaves and flowers of Passiflor sexocellata and Passiflora trifasciata

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Passiflora sexocellata and Passiflora trifasciata (Passifloraceae, subgenus Decaloba) were studied for the first time. Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation of fresh leaves and flowers. The chemical composition was assessed by using GC/FID and GC/MS. For P. sexocellata leaves, the optimized analytical procedure allowed the identification of 33 compounds (75% of the total oil composition) and 29 (74% of the total oil composition) in flowers. Regarding P. trifasciata, 35 compounds (76% of the total oil composition) were detected in leaves and 32 (71% of the total oil composition) in flowers. Terpenes and mono unsaturated hydrocarbons were quantified as major constituents of the volatile fraction in flowers (17.0 to 52.6%) and (13.7 to 20.0%). Organic acids were detected in both leaves and flowers with a percentage ranging from 3.3% to 32.0%. Aldehydes were also detected in leaves (12.6 to 41.4%) and in flowers (1.4 to 5.1%). The GC/MS analyzes allowed alcohols to be detected in leaves (20.6 to 42.9%) and in flowers (8.2 to 18.1%). These compounds represent the most important feature of the large Passiflora family. Moreover, a critical role in the coevolved mechanisms of pollinators' interaction has been investigated.