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Article

Wax Composition of Serbian Dianthus spp. (Caryophyllaceae): Identification of New Metabolites and Chemotaxonomic Implications †

by
Marko Z. Mladenović
1,
Milenko N. Ristić
2,
Andrija I. Bogdanović
3,
Novica R. Ristić
2,
Fabio Boylan
4,* and
Niko S. Radulović
1,*
1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia
2
Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Priština, Lole Ribara 29, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
3
Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia
4
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panoz Institute, and Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
In honour of the late professor Vladimir N. Ranđelović, a remarkable botanist of Balkan flora, one of the founding members of the Department of Biology and Ecology, at the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš.
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2094; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112094
Submission received: 1 May 2023 / Revised: 16 May 2023 / Accepted: 22 May 2023 / Published: 24 May 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activity)

Abstract

:
Although ethnopharmacologically renowned, wax constituents of Dianthus species were sporadically studied. A combination of GC-MS analysis, synthesis, and chemical transformations enabled the identification of 275 constituents of diethyl-ether washings of aerial parts and/or flowers of six Dianthus taxa (Dianthus carthusianorum, D. deltoides, D. giganteus subsp. banaticus, D. integer subsp. minutiflorus, D. petraeus, and D. superbus) and one Petrorhagia taxon (P. prolifera) from Serbia. Seventeen of these constituents (nonacosyl benzoate, additional 12 benzoates with anteiso-branched 1-alkanols, eicosyl tiglate, triacontane-14,16-dione, dotriacontane-14,16-dione, and tetratriacontane-16,18-dione) and two additional synthesized eicosyl esters (angelate and senecioate) represent completely new compounds. The structures of the tentatively identified β-ketones were confirmed by analysis of the mass fragmentation of the corresponding pyrazoles and silyl enol ethers obtained by transformations of crude extracts and extract fractions. Silylation allowed the identification of 114 additional constituents, including a completely new natural product (30-methylhentriacontan-1-ol). The results obtained by multivariate statistical analyses showed that the chemical profile of Dianthus taxa’s surface waxes is subject to both genetic and ecological factors, whereas the latter seemingly takes a more important role for the studied Dianthus samples.

1. Introduction

Dianthus L. is, after Silene L., the second largest genus in the Caryophyllaceae family with over 380 accepted species and 150 subspecies. The taxonomy of the genus has always been troublesome; it contains over 1000 synonyms and over 150 unresolved taxa. The position of genera Petrorhagia Link. and Velezia L. has been a subject of discussion by taxonomists for many decades, with many authors placing all species from Velezia within Dianthus and placing at least two Petrorhagia species in Dianthus [1]. Dianthus taxa are mostly perennial, rarely annual or biennial, herbs, and shrubs with decorative flowers, often fringed, speckled, and pleasantly perfumed, whose color ranges from white to shades of pink and purple [1]. Although a several species are ethnopharmacologically renowned, only a few taxa of this genus have been phytochemically studied in detail [2]. The chemical analyses revealed the presence of esters of benzoic and salicylic acids, triterpene saponins, and anthranilic acid-based phytoalexins, as well as other benzenoids, phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds [2]. Dianthus taxa have a long history of use in the folk medicine of many nations; such use has been backed up by recent studies: a glycosylated flavonol (kaempferide triglycoside) isolated from D. caryophyllus and an extract of D. chinensis was found to be active against the human colon cancer cell line and hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, respectively [2]. Extracts of some Dianthus taxa were used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, as well as anti-infective agents (gum infections, wounds, throat infections, etc.) [2].
The most widely used and accepted version of classification is that of Pax and Hoffmann, in which 7 sections are recognized and grouped into two subgenera: D. subg. Armeriastrum (Ser.) Pax & K.Hoffm. and D. subg. Caryophyllum (Ser.) Pax & K.Hoffm [3]. Both subgenera and all seven sections are represented by 36 species in the Serbian flora [4]. From a phytochemical point of view, the Serbian Dianthus taxa received little attention; more specifically the composition of waxes and volatiles of D. cruentus Griseb. was investigated previously resulting in the discovery of new plant metabolites [5].
In some instances, the chemical traits of plants proved to be more useful in the classification of taxa compared to the classical morpho-anatomical approach [6], opening a new niche in plant taxonomy—chemotaxonomy. Both approaches combined yield a much clearer insight into phylogenetic relationships, urging chemotaxonomical studies of taxa that proved problematic from only a morpho-anatomical standpoint, such as the infra- and intergeneric relationships of Dianthus. The chemical composition of epicuticular waxes was utilized for chemotaxonomical purposes, most frequently being limited to the alkane profiles [7,8,9]. Up to now, waxes of only a few species of Dianthus were analyzed including D. caryophyllus L. [10], D. spiculifolius Schur [11], and D. cruentus [5], finally, revealing even new long-chain compounds. The waxes of the closely related genus Petrorhagia have never been studied previously.
Prompted by the lack of phytochemical data on the composition of waxes of Dianthus species, in this work, we performed detailed chemical analyses of wax samples (diethyl-ether washings) of 6 Dianthus taxa (Table 1) and Petrorhagia prolifera (L.) P.W.Ball & Heywood (15 samples, in total) originating from Serbia. To achieve an unambiguous identification, besides an MS and RI comparison with the literature data, the identity of many wax constituents was confirmed by a GC co-injection with authentic samples (commercially obtained standards and synthesized compounds). The application of chemical transformations (dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) derivatization, silylation, and the synthesis of pyrazoles) performed directly on crude washings, chromatographic separations, and detailed mass spectral analysis of the derivatized wax samples allowed the identification of 389 wax constituents, among them 18 new natural products. To explore the possible applicability of the accumulated plant wax compositional data in the chemotaxonomy of Dianthus and related genera, we have performed multivariate statistical analyses (MVA) of wax compositional data for 7 different Dianthus taxa including the wax sample for one taxon that belongs to another closely related genus of the Caryophyllaceae family (P. prolifera), amounting, in total, to 16 statistically treated samples.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Composition of Washings and Their Variability

Detailed GC-MS analyses (a representative GC chromatogram of the washings is given in the case of D. petraeus in Figure S1; Supplementary Materials), chemical transformation of the samples (DMDS derivatization and the synthesis of pyrazoles), and the synthesis of selected pure compounds enabled the identification of 275 constituents (Table 2) from fifteen samples of diethyl-ether washings of fresh aerial parts and/or flowers of 6 Dianthus taxa (D. carthusianorum (1a1d), D. deltoides (2a2c), D. giganteus subsp. banaticus (3), D. integer subsp. minutiflorus (4), D. petraeus (5a5c), and D. superbus (6a6b)) and one Petrorhagia taxon (P. prolifera, 7). The identified constituents represented 87.2–99.0% of the total detected GC-peak areas (Table 2). The major compound classes were the long-chain alkanes (20.5–91.4%), β-diketones (up to 75.9%), aldehydes (0.3–38.7%), alkenes (0.9–28.2%), and esters (benzoates tr–16.7% and esters of normal/branched long-chain fatty acids or fatty alcohols (tr–19.1%)). The major constituents (Table 2) were heptacosane (up to 42.3%), nonacosane (3.5–26.4%), hentriacontane (3.2–44.4%), octacosanal (up to 20.1%), hexacosan-1-ol (up to 15.7%), hentriacontane-14,16-dione (up to 64.5%), and tritriacontane-16,18-dione (up to 18.6%). Alkenes with different double bond locations were identified by derivatization with dimethyl disulfide using the procedure that was previously described in detail [5].
Although most of the identified constituents represent ubiquitous wax constituents, that were also previously detected in the washings of other Dianthus taxa (e.g., D. cruenthus [5]), one homologous series of constituents caught our attention—esters of benzoic acid with long-chain (normal and branched) alcohols. Similar MS fragmentation patterns of 19 constituents (RI values 1374, 2213, 2315, 2418, 2521, 2625, 2728, 2832, 2936, 3040, 3143, 3247, 3350, 3453, 3556, 3660, 3765, 3870, and 3974) suggested that these constituents represent homologous benzoates of long-chain saturated n-alcohols. This reasoning was based on the characteristic MS fragmentation patterns (a base ion at m/z 123 (C6H5CO2H2+) and other intense ions at m/z 105 and 77 (C7H5O+ and C6H5+, respectively) which are indicative of benzoates (Figure 1). In some cases, the presence of the molecular ion allowed the allocation of the number of carbon atoms to the alcoholic moiety, but mostly it was the differences in the obtained RI values and a comparison of their retention indices with the literature values [5] that gave crucial information in their tentative identification. GC co-chromatography of the washings with a mixture of synthetic standards (obtained by esterification of benzoic acid with a mixture of n-alcohols) confirmed their presence in the washings. Additional benzoates (benzyl, 2-phenylethyl, (2E,6E)-2,6-farnesyl benzoate and docos-15-en-1-yl benzoate) were identified using the correlation of experimental RI data with available data from the literature, and in case of 2-phenylethyl and (2E,6E)-2,6-farnesyl benzoate by a co-injection experiment of the washings with synthesized pure esters.
Alongside the mentioned benzoates, a detailed analysis of the GC-MS partial current chromatograms (using m/z 123 and 105 ions) revealed the presence of two additional series (grouped based on their regular change of RI values; one with constituents eluting at RI = 2493, 2596, 2699, 3117, 3324, 3427, 3531, 3635, 3739, 3844, and 3948, and the second one with RI = 3210, 3417, 3625) of related benzoates that eluted slightly faster from the GC column compared to the n-chain homologs. Differences in the RI values with RIs of the normal chain isomers implied the existence of iso- and anteiso-branched-chains in the alcohol moiety [5]. Moreover, a comparison of the MS and RI data from the literature for 20-methylheneicosyl benzoate confirmed that one of the series represents an iso-branched series, whereas the constituents that eluted ca. 10 RI units slower represented the anteiso-branched counterparts [5]. Based on a detailed literature survey, 13 of the identified benzoates (Figure 2) represented new compounds, i.e., newly discovered natural products (Table 2).
Besides the abovementioned benzoates, a constituent at RI 2740 with the base ion at m/z 101 and intense peaks at m/z 83 and 55 was detected in the plant washings 2a, 2b, and 5b (Table 2). This pointed to the presence of an ester of a branched pentenoic acid and a fatty alcohol. The presence of the molecular ion peak at m/z 380 suggested that the alcohol contained 20 carbon atoms. Esters of (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic (tiglic), (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenoic (angelic), and 3-methyl-2-butenoic (senecioic) acids, and eicosan-1-ol were prepared. GC-MS co-chromatography of the synthetic standards with wax samples 2a, 2b, and 5b agreed with the tentative RI/MS-based assumption, and the detected constituent was found to be eicosyl tiglate. According to a literature survey, all synthesized esters are completely new compounds whereas eicosyl tiglate represents a newly discovered natural product (Figures S2–S8). The synthesized eicosyl esters were chromatographically (RI) and spectrally characterized (1D and 2D NMR and/or MS).
Interestingly, an additional group of identified constituents, n-chain fatty acid amides, and N-(2-phenylethyl) amides, were detected only in the sample of D. giganteus subsp. banaticus (3), could be regarded as compounds with a very restricted natural occurrence [12,13]. For example, both identified amides (N-(2-phenylethyl)eicosanamide and N-(2-phenylethyl)docosanamide; Table 2) were mentioned in the literature only once – as the metabolites of bacterial strains from the genus Xenorhabdus [13]. The mentioned amides are also excellent candidates for chemotaxonomic markers at species and even genus levels. However, detailed analysis of different populations of D. giganteus subsp. banaticus and other Dianthus species are needed to confirm this.
The second group of compounds that caught our attention was a series of GC-peaks, one of them being the major constituent of D. petraeus samples (Table 2), with a specific MS fragmentation pattern (base peak at m/z 100) indicative of long-chain β-diketones [14,15]. The differences in their retention index values (ΔRI ca. 100 units) and molecular ions suggested that they differ one from another in one -CH2- group (Table 2). Frequently, β-diketones, occurring in the leaf waxes of different plant species, were identified based on only fragmentation patterns visible in their mass spectra [14]. However, the position of the keto functionalities along the chain is difficult to be inferred from only a combination of MS and RI data due to their high similarity or inconclusiveness. Thus, some of the previous reports of β-diketones in plant waxes, with specific locations of keto groups, based only on GC–MS identification, should be taken with reserve. For instance, nonacosane-12,14-dione, triacontane-12,14-dione, and hentriacontane-14,16-dione were recently reported as constituents of plant cuticular waxes for four Triticum aestivum cultivars [16], but the authors provided no real proof of the exact regioisomeric nature of the detected compounds. The presented RI Thenacosane-12,14-dione (2689), triacontane-12,14-dione (2698), and hentriacontane-14,16-dione (2735) suggested that the proposed structures of the diketones should be revised [17].

2.2. The Analysis of GC Chromatograms after Chemical Transformations Performed Directly on Crude Wax Samples

Initially, to permit a definitive identification of the regioisomeric β-diketones, we turned to the derivatization reaction with hydrazine (Figure S9) [17]. A combination of MS data of the detected β-diketones (Figure S10) and the typical fragmentation pattern that was noted in the MS spectra of the synthesized corresponding pyrazole derivatives (e.g., pairs of peaks at m/z 277/264 and 305/292 ([C18H33N2]+/[C17H32N2]+ and [C20H37N2]+/[C19H36N2]+, respectively) for the pyrazole obtained from hentriacontane-14,16-dione; Figure S11) allowed us to unambiguously confirm the structure of the detected β-diketones as nonacosane-12,14-dione, hentriacontane-14,16-dione, and tritriacontane-16,18-dione [18]. A literature search showed that the above-mentioned β-diketones were only sporadically reported as plant/animal species metabolites and only one report included a Dianthus taxon or the plant family Caryophyllaceae in general [10]. The proposed structures of β-diketones were additionally confirmed by the silylation of the diethyl-ether washings (Figure S12). For example, the detected silylated enol forms of hentriacontane-14,16-dione, i.e., 14-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)hentriacont-14-en-16-one and 16-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)hentriacont-15-en-14-one, displayed the characteristic mass fragmentation pattern with intense peaks at m/z 325 [C19H37O2Si]+ and 353 [C21H41O2Si]+ (Figure S13) that, again, undoubtedly confirmed the position of β-diketone moiety and our tentative identification.
Unfortunately, due to the low abundance of the detected other homologous β-diketones at RI = 3297, 3498, 3698, and 3797 (Figure S14), it was only possible to predict the total number of C atoms in the molecules (30, 32, 34, and 35, respectively). However, the position of the β-diketone moiety remained unknown even after the derivatization of the crude extract samples as the silylated derivatives were not observed. For that reason, chromatographic separation of the wax sample was performed to obtain a fraction ‘rich’ in β-diketones. One of the seven different chromatographic fractions (fraction 3 from Table S2 that elute from the column with 7%, v/v, of the diethyl ether in hexane) displayed TIC peaks with more than 70% of the areas belonging to the homologous series of β-diketones. After the treatment of this fraction with hydrazine, partial ion current (PIC) chromatograms for m/z 96 [C5H8N2]+ and m/z 109 [C6H9N2]+ of the derivatized fraction revealed the presence of pyrazole derivatives of four additional β-diketones at Rt = 49.37, 52.03, 55.55, and 57.80 min with molecular ions peaks at m/z 446, 474, 502, and 516, respectively, besides the ones obtained from nonacosane-12,14-dione, hentriacontane-14,16-dione, and tritriacontane-16,18-dione (Rt = 48.19, 50.56, and 53.63; Figure S15). Further inspection of the mass spectra of these compounds revealed the presence of fragment ions that pointed to the position of the β-diketone moiety. For example, PIC chromatogram of m/z 292 and 305, corresponding to fragments [C19H36N2]+ and [C20H37N2]+, respectively, pointed that, besides nonacosane-12,14-dione, hentriacontane-14,16-dione, and tritriacontane-16,18-dione, two additional pyrazoles contained this pair of ions (Figure S15). These might be regarded as diagnostic fragment ions for [C18H33O2]+ moiety in the corresponding β-diketones, i.e., the position of the β-diketone moiety. Based on this and the presence of molecular ions peaks at m/z 502 and 516, we have assumed that the mentioned pyrazoles formed from tetratriacontane-16,18-dione, and pentatriacontane-16,18-dione. The presence of ion pairs (m/z 306/319 and 320/333 for pyrazole derivatives at Rt = 55.55, and 57.80 min, respectively) in the mass spectra additionally confirmed our identification. Additional PIC chromatograms of m/z 264 and 277, corresponding to the presence of fragments [C17H31N2]+ and [C18H33N2]+, respectively, revealed that pyrazoles at 49.37 and 52.03 min were derivatives obtained from triacontane-14,16-dione and dotriacontane-14,16-dione, respectively (Figure S15). The identified triacontane-14,16-dione, dotriacontane-14,16-dione, and tetratriacontane-16,18-dione represents new natural products and new compounds in general (Figure 3).
Unfortunately, the silylated fraction 3 did not contain unresolved peaks of the corresponding silyl enol ethers obtained from triacontane-14,16-dione, dotriacontane-14,16-dione, tetratriacontane-16,18-dione, and pentatriacontane-16,18-dione and for that reason, it was not possible to analyze their MS fragmentation pattern with certainty. Besides the structure confirmation of the new β-diketones, the chromatographic separation of D. superbus flower wax extract allowed the detection and identification of 97 constituents that were not detected in the GC-MS analysis of crude extract (denoted with minus in Table S2 (Supplementary Materials)).
Experimentally obtained RI data for β-diketones had an average increment of 100 units per CH2 in the series, which was in general agreement with those assigned to an n-alkane series. This might be explained by the low impact of the β-diketone moiety located somewhere in the middle of the molecule on RI values in such long-chain diketones, i.e., that a chain with more than twenty-nine carbon atoms is sufficient to make the RI increment of regioisomeric β-diketones essentially the same as for the n-alkane series. We believe that the proposed synthetic approach (pyrazole and silylenol ether formation) will make future identification of related natural compounds a straightforward task.
Besides the confirmation of proposed structures of β-diketones, analysis of the characteristic mass fragmentation of trimethylsilyl derivatives [19] and regularities in RI values enabled the identification of additional 114 wax constituents (Table S1) that were not detected in the GC chromatograms of the original crude wax samples. Quite expectedly, additionally identified constituents belong to the (branched) long-chain carboxylic acids and alcohols. One group of compounds represents silyl ethers of homologous series of n-chain 1-alkanols (Table S1). The identification was based on mass spectra and retention indices matching with the literature data. Detailed analysis of the silylated sample 5a revealed the existence of an additional peak (Figure S16) that eluted slightly faster (Rt = 49.15 min) compared to 1-(trimethylsilyloxy)dotriacontane at Rt = 49.56 min. However, the mass fragmentation pattern (base ion at m/z 523), and the molecular ion peak (m/z 538) are almost identical to the already identified silyl derivative of 1-dotriacontanol (Figure S16). Thus, all these suggested that the mentioned compound could be a branched-chain alcohol with 32 carbon atoms. We assumed that the type of branching should be iso- or anteiso-alkan-1-ol due to biosynthetic considerations. The exclusion of other isomers (the presence of multiple branching, secondary alcohols, etc.) was inferred from the not-so-large differences in the RI values compared with the straight-chain isomer and from the different fragmentation patterns expected to be visible in their mass spectra [20]. Moreover, according to the data from the literature, the gas chromatographic behavior of n-, iso-, and anteiso- analog compounds, e.g., alkanols, esters, alkanes, etc., was more or less similar, i.e., iso- and anteiso-branched compounds have ca. 35- and 25-units lower RI values compared to the normal chain counterparts [5]. The difference between the RI of 1-docosanol and the detected alkanol was 37 units and that confirmed the presence of the iso-branched isomer of 1-docosanol, i.e., 30-methylhentriacontan-1-ol, which represents a completely new compound.

2.3. Multivariate Statistical Analysis (MVA) of Data Acquired from Untargeted GC-MS Metabolomics

To address the chemotaxonomical potential of the identified wax constituents, we decided to perform a statistical analysis of the up to now investigated Dianthus taxa, as well as one Petrorhagia species (Figure 4 and Figure 5 and Supplementary Material (Figures S17–S18)). We performed principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). Both methods were applied utilizing two different variable sets: the original variables (constituent percentages that exceed 1% of total oil contribution in at least one of the samples) and sums of constituent classes (alkanes, alkenes, fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, benzoates, diterpenes, β-diketones, esters, other fatty acid related constituents, ketones, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, shikimate pathway metabolites, triterpenes, and unclassified constituents).
Based on the performed AHC using percentages of individual washings constituents as variables two well-separated clades could be recognized. Samples from the subgenus Armeriastrum, section Carthusiani, appear to show the highest degree of phenotypic plasticity when the wax composition is considered as they were scattered across the dendrogram (Figure 4), while other taxa formed more uniform groups. One of the clades consisted of solely D. petraeus samples and one D. carthusianorum sample. Interestingly, although these two taxa belong to distinct subgenera, this D. carthusianorum sample originated from the same collection locality as two samples of D. petraeus (Mt. Stara Planina), suggesting a profound effect of ecological conditions on the production of specific wax constituents (long-chain diketones). On the other hand, D. deltoides samples, similarly to D. petraeus, formed a closed group, although belonging to different sections but of the same subgenus (Caryophyllum). Once again it seems important to note that there was a higher level of similarity between samples coming from the same locality, as in the case of D. superbus and D. deltoides from Lake Vlasina, as opposed to the expected phylogenetic sectional grouping. Taxa belonging to the same section (D. integer and D. petraeus) were not placed within the same clades again pointing to the importance of ecological factors as predominant in the biosynthesis of wax constituents. The close relationship between Petrorhagia and Dianthus genera is further justified by the placement of P. prolifera sample amongst all other Dianthus samples. The composition of waxes from different plant organs (flowers and the rest of the aerial parts) seems to be more distinct one from another, in the cases of D. superbus and D. carthusianorum samples, implying a different biological function of the different organ waxes, and confirming the validity of the usual approach of comparing chemical compositions of same plant parts.
A comparable dendrogram (Supplementary Materials Figure S17) resulted when wax compound classes were used as variables, albeit with a higher degree of dissimilarity, deserving no further discussion. PCAs conducted with both sets of variables (Figure 5 and Figure S18; Supplementary Materials) revealed a much more aggregated relationship between the samples, with only the flowers of D. cruentus and D. superbus as clearly distinct from the rest in the case of the biplot obtained with percentages of all washings’ constituents. The wax profile of D. cruentus was characterized uniquely by the presence of hexyl and other related alkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids (absent in all other analyzed Dianthus spp.). Although such esters are found in taxa outside Dianthus [21,22,23], they could be regarded as chemotaxonomic markers of D. cruentus since being exclusively found in this particular taxon and no other Dianthus spp. It appears that the washings of the highly fragrant flowers of D. superbus contained a significant number of volatiles compared to wax components and that they differentiated this sample from the rest.
Most of the identified wax constituents represent fatty acids-related compounds such as alkanes, β-diketones, alkenes, and esters. For that reason, strong dependencies between wax constituents in the Pearson matrix (expressed as correlation coefficients, r ≥ 0.9), obtained by principal component analysis (PCA; using original variables), were quite expected. All correlation coefficients within the group of major wax constituents, i.e., heptacosane, nonacosane, and hentriacontane had very high values (the amounts of these alkanes could be interconnected through the regulation of one or more enzymes that convert fatty acids to alkanes by elongation or decarbonylation). Other pairs of biosynthetically related compounds with high r values were the identified benzoates (e.g., dodecyl and tridecyl benzoate r = 1.000, 13-methylpentadecyl benzoate and eicosyl or docosyl benzoate r = 0.939 and 0.850, respectively, etc.). Additional high correlations were observed in the cases of several identified benzoates and some long-chain methyl esters (e.g., the correlation of octacosyl benzoate with methyl pentadecanoate, methyl linoleate, and methyl tetracosanoate was higher than 0.99) and between β-diketones and 2-ketones (e.g., the correlation of tritriacontan-16,18-dione with 2-pentatriacontanone, 2-tritriacontanone, and 2-hentriacontanone was 0.880, 0.893, and 0.733, respectively). These correlations suggested that the biosynthesis of such compounds is not only closely related but may involve either the same enzyme system or at least a common intermediate. Surprisingly, the relative content of hentriacontane-14,16-dione did not correlate with the relative amount of 16-hentriacontanone. It could be that the initially introduced ketone at position 14 undergoes an easy introduction of the second keto functionality in either β-positions, but if the ketone is initially introduced into position 16 it is not likely to be the subject of further oxygenation leading to this diketone.
However, the low discrimination between the majority of the samples, as visible from the bi-plot (Figure 5) obtained from the PCA could be the result of environmental factors producing sufficient background noise to prevent the expected taxonomic classification. Therefore, one should be rather cautious in reaching any chemotaxonomic conclusions from such analyses. We tried to overcome this limitation by subjecting supervised data to all MVA, more specifically, the contents of the constituents with a relative amount ≥ 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% in at least one of the compared samples, to achieve a better chemotaxonomic classification. The obtained results were either identical or very similar to the ones presented in Figure 5 (the corresponding biplots are not shown for that reason). It follows that either other classification variables need to be introduced or a significantly higher number of samples (e.g., taxa) needs to be treated to reach the desired statistical result. When comparing the dendrograms obtained from a molecular biology study [1] with ours, sample sizes do not allow a meaningful interpretation and this is planned to be expanded in future studies.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Experimental Procedures

All solvents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Chemicals for synthetic use, including tiglic acid, angelic acid, senecioic acid, 1-eicosanol and series of n-chain 1-alkanols, benzoic acid, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP), N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), hydrazine hydrochloride, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), pyridine, N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide, and trimethylsilyl chloride were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich or Carl Roth (Karlsruhe, Germany). Silica gel 60, particle size distribution 40–63 mm (Acros Organics, Geel, Belgium), was used for dry-flash chromatography, whereas precoated Al silica gel plates (Merck (Darmstadt, Germany), Kieselgel 60 F254, 0.2 mm) were used for analytical TLC analyses. The spots on TLC were visualized by UV light (254 nm) and by spraying with 50% (v/v) aq. H2SO4 or 10% (w/v) ethanolic solution of phosphomolybdic acid, followed by 10 min of heating at 110 °C.
The GC-MS analyses (three repetitions) of the washings, derivatized washings, and pure synthesized esters were carried out using a Hewlett-Packard 6890N gas chromatograph equipped with a fused silica capillary column DB-5MS (5% diphenylsiloxane and 95% dimethylsiloxane, 30 m × 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm, Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) and coupled with a 5975B mass selective detector from the same company. The injector and interface were operated at 250 °C and 320 °C, respectively. The oven temperature was raised from 70 °C to 315 °C at a heating rate of 5 °C/min and the program ended with an isothermal period of 30 min. As a carrier gas helium at 1.0 mL/min was used. The samples, 1.0 μL of the diethyl ether solutions (1.0 mg per 1.0 mL), were injected in a pulsed split mode (the flow was 1.5 mL/min for the first 0.5 min and then set to 1.0 mL/min throughout the remainder of the analysis; split ratio 40:1). MS conditions were as follows: ionization voltage of 70 eV, acquisition mass range 35–650, scan time 0.32 s.
The 1H- (including 1H-NMR spectra with homonuclear decoupling), 13C- (with and without heteronuclear decoupling) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, distortion less enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT90 and DEPT135), and 2D (1H-1H COSY, NOESY, gHSQC, and gHMBC) NMR spectra of eicosyl tiglate were recorded on a Bruker Avance III 400 MHz NMR spectrometer (Fällanden, Switzerland; 1H at 400 MHz, 13C at 101 MHz) equipped with a 5–11 mm dual 13C/1H probe head. All NMR spectra were measured at 25 °C in CDCl3 with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as an internal standard. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm (δ) and referenced to TMS (δH = 0 ppm) in 1H-NMR spectra and/or to solvent (deuterated chloroform: δH = 7.26 ppm and δC = 77.16 ppm) in 13C- and heteronuclear 2D spectra. Scalar couplings are reported in hertz (Hz).

3.2. Plant Material

Fresh aerial parts and/or flowers of Dianthus taxa originated from the high slopes of Mt. Kopaonik, Mt. Šara, Mt. Suva Planina, and Mt. Stara Planina, as well as near Lake Vlasina and Deliblatska peščara (Table 3). Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Serbia. The identity of the plant material was determined by one of the authors (A.I.B) and the late professor of botany Vladimir Ranđelović (Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš).

3.3. Preparation of Plant Washings

Fresh aerial parts or flowers of mentioned Dianthus taxa, handled one by one, were shortly (ca. 5 s) immersed in a vessel with 500 mL of diethyl ether, while being exposed to ultrasonic waves (the glass beaker was inside an ultrasonic bath, Elmasonic S30 (Elma, Germany) operating at a frequency of 37 kHz, with an effective ultrasonic power of 30 W and a peak of 240 W), at room temperature. To remove all the insoluble material, the washings were gravity filtered through a small column packed with several grams of Celite® (Merck, Germany), and dried over anhydrous MgSO4, then concentrated to 10 mL at room temperature before GC-MS analysis. The yield of the washings (%, w/w) was 0.11–0.37%.

3.4. Chromatographic Fractionation of Crude Flower D. superbus Washings (6a)

D. superbus flower washings were subjected to dry-flash column chromatography using a gradient of diethyl ether (Et2O) and n-hexane (from pure n-hexane to pure Et2O, with an increment step of 5%, v/v; fraction volume: 100 mL) and this resulted in 7 different fractions, in total, pooled based on TLC and GC-MS analyses (see Table S2 in Supplementary Materials).

3.5. Component Identification

Diethyl-ether washings constituents were identified by comparison of their linear retention indices (relative to n-alkanes on a DB-5MS column) with the literature values, ΔRI values for the corresponding branched-chain isomers, their mass spectra with those of authentic standards, as well as those from Wiley 7, NIST14, MassFinder 2.3, and a homemade MS library with the spectra corresponding to pure substances, and, wherever possible, by co-injection with an authentic sample (see Table 2 and Tables S1 and S2; column ID). Additionally, samples of the washings and selected washings fractions were subjected to derivatization reactions that included reaction with hydrazine, silylation, and formation of dimethyl disulfide adducts, described in detail below, and afterward to additional GC-MS analyses.

3.6. Synthesis of Esters

A solution of 1-eicosanol (200 mg), (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid (syn. tiglic acid; 1.1 eq), (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid (syn. angelic acid; 1.1 eq) or 3-methyl-3-butenoic acid (syn. senecioic acid; 1.1 eq), DMAP (0.3 eq) and DCC (1.1 eq) in 10 mL of dry CH2Cl2 (Figure S19) was stirred overnight at room temperature [5]. The crude esters were purified by dry-flash chromatography on silica gel using 3% (v/v) diethyl ether in hexane. The purity of the esters was checked by TLC and GC-MS. Mass spectra, 1D, and 2D NMR spectra of the new natural product, eicosyl tiglate, are given in the Supplementary Materials (Figures S2–S8). NMR spectral and/or GC-MS data for synthesized esters are given below:
Eicosyl tiglate: yield 88%; white waxy solid. RI (DB-5MS): 2740. MS (EI), (m/z, (relative abundance, %)): 380(M+, 1), 111(5), 102(10), 101(100), 100(25), 97(9), 85(6), 84(5), 83(30), 82(6), 71(7), 70(4), 69(10), 57(14), 56(5), 55(24), 43(15), 41(9). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 6.84 (quartet of quartets, J = 7.0, 1.2 Hz, H-(C3), 1H), 4.12 (triplet, J = 6.7 Hz, H-(C1′), 2H), 1.83 (pseudo quintet, J = 1.2 Hz, H-(C5), 3H), 1.79 (doublet of quartets, J = 7.0, 1.2 Hz, H-(C4), 3H), 1.66 (quintet, J = 6.7 Hz, H-(C2′), 2H), 1.43—1.19 (overlapping signals, H-(C3’)—H-(C19′), 34H), 0.88 (pseudo triplet, J = 6.7, H-(C20′). 13C-NMR (101 MHz, CDCl3): 168.2 (C1), 136.8 (C3), 128.8 (C2), 64.6 (C1′), 31.9, 29.7, 29.7, 29.6, 29.6, 29.4, 29.3, 26.1, 22.7 (C(3′)—C(19′)), 28.7 (C2′), 14.3 (C5), 14.1 (C20′), 12.0 (C4).
Eicosyl angelate: yield 65%; white waxy solid. RI (DB-5MS): 2682. MS (EI), (m/z, (relative abundance, %)): 380(M+, 3), 111(3), 102(6), 101(49), 100(100), 97(6), 85(8), 84(3), 83(23), 82(6), 71(10), 70(4), 69(10), 57(18), 56(5), 55(25), 43(16), 41(10).
Eicosyl senecioate: yield 82%; white waxy solid. RI (DB-5MS): 2722. MS (EI), (m/z, (relative abundance, %)): 380(M+, 5), 111(3), 102(6), 101(85), 100(100), 97(7), 85(10), 84(5), 83(60), 82(10), 81(3), 71(10), 70(4), 69(11), 67(4), 57(20), 56(6), 55(27), 54(3), 43(23), 41(14).

3.7. Silylation Procedure

A sample of washings (ca. 10 mg) was placed into a GC vial, afterward, 500 μL of pyridine, 100 μL of N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide, and one drop of trimethylsilyl chloride were added (Figure S19). The vial was capped and heated for 1 h at 60 °C in a heating block [24]. After cooling to room temperature, 5 μL of the pyridine solution of TMS derivatives was injected; the GC-MS program used for this purpose was identical to the one used to record the original samples before silylation but also included a 7 min delay (the time that elapsed after the injection until MS detector turns on).

3.8. Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS) Derivatization

The sample of the washings was dissolved in DMDS (0.25 mL per mg of the sample) and a solution (0.05 mL per mg of the sample) of iodine in diethyl ether (60 mg/mL) was added [5]. The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight (Figure S19). Then diethyl ether was added, and the obtained mixture was washed with 10% aq. Na2S2O3, was dried over anhydrous MgSO4, and evaporated to dryness. The residue was taken up in fresh diethyl ether and directly analyzed by GC-MS.

3.9. Synthesis of Pyrazoles

A sample of the washings (ca. 10 mg) or the chromatographic fraction (see Supplementary Materials, fraction F3 from Table S2) was placed into a GC vial, afterwards, 500 μL of absolute ethanol and 100 μL of 98+ hydrazine monohydrate was added [17]. The vial was heated for 1 h at 60 °C in a heating block (Figure S19). After cooling to room temperature, the obtained sample was directly analyzed by GC-MS.

3.10. Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) were performed using the Excel program plug-in XLSTAT version 2022.5.1. The proximity between two objects in the AHC was measured by the Euclidean distance. Ward’s method was applied as the aggregation criterion. The number of object classes (groups of observations) was chosen based on the increase of within-group and between-group dissimilarities. PCAs of Pearson (n)-type were performed. Both methods were applied utilizing four different types of variables, i.e., original variables (contents of the constituents with a relative amount ≥ 1% in at least one of the compared samples) and transformed variables—summed-up contents of constituent classes (alkanes, alkenes, fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, benzoates, diterpenes, β-diketones, esters, other fatty acid related constituents, ketones, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, shikimate pathway metabolites, triterpenes, and unclassified constituents).

4. Conclusions

Comprehensive GC-MS analysis of fifteen samples of diethyl-ether washings obtained from fresh aerial parts and/or flowers of six Dianthus taxa and one Petrorhagia taxon from Serbia enabled the identification of 275 constituents. Among them, 18 identified constituents represent completely new compounds: nonacosyl benzoate, additional 12 benzoates with anteiso-branched long-chain 1-alkanols, eicosyl tiglate, 30-methylhentriacontan-1-ol, triacontane-14,16-dione, dotriacontane-14,16-dione, and tetratriacontane-16,18-dione. The used approach implies that the identification necessitates the synthesis of pyrazoles and silylenol ethers as complementary identification methods as RI data and fragmentation patterns in the mass spectra are practically indistinguishable for certain regioisomeric species within these series. The results of the MVA show that the chemical traits of surface waxes of Dianthus taxa are subject to both genetic and ecological factors, whereas the latter seemingly take a more important role for the studied Dianthus samples. As the taxa from the genus Dianthus have been demonstrated to show extremely low genetic diversity [1], this phenotypic plasticity of waxes, apparent for the MVA analyses, was rather unexpected.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/plants12112094/s1, Figures S1–S19; Tables S1–S2.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, N.S.R. and F.B.; methodology, N.S.R. and M.Z.M.; software, A.I.B. and M.Z.M.; validation, N.R.R. and M.Z.M.; formal analysis, M.N.R., A.I.B., N.R.R. and M.Z.M.; investigation, M.N.R., A.I.B., N.R.R. and M.Z.M.; data curation, M.N.R., A.I.B., N.R.R. and M.Z.M.; writing—original draft, M.N.R., A.I.B., N.R.R. and M.Z.M.; writing—review and editing, N.S.R. and F.B.; supervision, N.S.R.; funding acquisition, N.S.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations of Serbia [No. contract 451-03-47/2023-01/200124].

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. (A)—Total ion current chromatogram (TIC) of diethyl-ether washings of D. deltoides (sample 2a from Table 2), (B)—corresponding patrial ion current chromatogram (PIC, ions m/z 105 and 123) and (C)—mass spectrum (MS) of eicosyl benzoate detected at (Rt 44.225 min).
Figure 1. (A)—Total ion current chromatogram (TIC) of diethyl-ether washings of D. deltoides (sample 2a from Table 2), (B)—corresponding patrial ion current chromatogram (PIC, ions m/z 105 and 123) and (C)—mass spectrum (MS) of eicosyl benzoate detected at (Rt 44.225 min).
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Figure 2. Structures of the newly identified wax esters, from left to right: nonacosyl benzoate, 12 benzoates of anteiso-branched 1-alkanols, and eicosyl tiglate.
Figure 2. Structures of the newly identified wax esters, from left to right: nonacosyl benzoate, 12 benzoates of anteiso-branched 1-alkanols, and eicosyl tiglate.
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Figure 3. Structures of the newly identified β-diketones: triacontane-14,16-dione (n = 11 and m = 12), dotriacontane-14,16-dione (n = 11 and m = 14), and tetratriacontane-16,18-dione (n = 13 and m = 14).
Figure 3. Structures of the newly identified β-diketones: triacontane-14,16-dione (n = 11 and m = 12), dotriacontane-14,16-dione (n = 11 and m = 14), and tetratriacontane-16,18-dione (n = 13 and m = 14).
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Figure 4. Dendrogram of AHC obtained by agglomerative hierarchical clustering using the original variables (contents of constituents with relative amounts ≥ 1% in at least one of the compared samples) and representing the chemical-composition dissimilarity relationships of 16 wax samples (observations) of 7 different Dianthus taxa (15 samples) and one sample of other Caryophyllaceae species (Petrorhagia prolifera). As a dissimilarity metric, the Euclidian distance was used (dissimilarity within the interval [0, 3900], using Ward‘s method as an aggregation criterion). Two statistically different groups of oils were found (C1C2).
Figure 4. Dendrogram of AHC obtained by agglomerative hierarchical clustering using the original variables (contents of constituents with relative amounts ≥ 1% in at least one of the compared samples) and representing the chemical-composition dissimilarity relationships of 16 wax samples (observations) of 7 different Dianthus taxa (15 samples) and one sample of other Caryophyllaceae species (Petrorhagia prolifera). As a dissimilarity metric, the Euclidian distance was used (dissimilarity within the interval [0, 3900], using Ward‘s method as an aggregation criterion). Two statistically different groups of oils were found (C1C2).
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Figure 5. Dendrogram of PCA obtained by principal component analysis using the original variables (contents of constituents with relative amounts ≥ 1% in at least one of the compared samples) and representing the chemical-composition dissimilarity relationships of 16 wax samples (observations) of 7 different Dianthus taxa (15 samples) and one sample of Petrorhagia prolifera.
Figure 5. Dendrogram of PCA obtained by principal component analysis using the original variables (contents of constituents with relative amounts ≥ 1% in at least one of the compared samples) and representing the chemical-composition dissimilarity relationships of 16 wax samples (observations) of 7 different Dianthus taxa (15 samples) and one sample of Petrorhagia prolifera.
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Table 1. Analyzed plant taxa and their position within the genus.
Table 1. Analyzed plant taxa and their position within the genus.
Dianthus Taxa
D. subg. Armeriastrum (Ser.) Pax & K.Hoffm.
D. sect. Carthusiani (Boiss.) F.N.Williams
  Dianthus carthusianorum L.
  Dianthus giganteus subsp. banaticus (Heuff.) Tutin
D. subg. Caryophyllum (Ser.) Pax & K.Hoffm.
D. sect. Barbulatum F.N.Williams
  Dianthus deltoides L.
D. sect. “Tetralepides Leiopetala” F.N.Williams
  Dianthus integer subsp. minutiflorus (Halácsy) Bornm. ex Strid
  Dianthus petraeus Waldst. & Kit.
D. sect. “Plumaria” Opiz
  Dianthus superbus L.
Table 2. The chemical composition of the diethyl-ether washings of fresh aerial parts and/or flowers of D. carthusianorum (1a1d), D. deltoides (2a2c), D. giganteus subsp. banaticus (3), D. integer subsp. minutiflorus (4), D. petraeus (5a5c), D. superbus (6a6b), and P. prolifera (7) from Serbia.
Table 2. The chemical composition of the diethyl-ether washings of fresh aerial parts and/or flowers of D. carthusianorum (1a1d), D. deltoides (2a2c), D. giganteus subsp. banaticus (3), D. integer subsp. minutiflorus (4), D. petraeus (5a5c), D. superbus (6a6b), and P. prolifera (7) from Serbia.
RI [a]CompoundClass [b]Samples [c]ID [d]
1a1b1c1d2a2b2c345a5b5c6a6b7
802HexanalG tr MS, RI, CoI
852(Z)-Hex-3-en-1-olG trtr MS, RI, CoI
900NonaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
960(Z)-Hept-2-enalG tr MS, RI, CoI
1000DecaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
1001OctanalG tr MS, RI, CoI
1005(Z)-Hex-3-en-1-yl acetateG tr MS, RI
1036Benzyl alcoholO 0.1tr MS, RI, CoI, Si
1047PhenylacetaldehydeO trtr MS, RI, CoI
1049(E)-β-OcimeneM 0.5 MS, RI
1063Unidentified constituent [e] 5.3 2.8
1069Octan-1-olG tr MS, RI, Si
1100UndecaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
1106NonanalG trtr MS, RI, CoI
1120MaltolO 0.418.0 MS, RI, Si
11222-Phenylethan-1-olALC tr MS, RI, CoI, Si
1164neoiso-IsopulegolM tr MS, RI, CoI, Si
1190Dodec-1-eneAE tr MS, RI
1200DodecaneA tr trtr MS, RI, CoI
1206DecanalG 0.2tr MS, RI, CoI
12743-MethyldodecaneA tr MS, RI
1300TridecaneA tr tr MS, RI, CoI
1309UndecanalG tr MS, RI
1340Methyl o-methoxybenzoateE tr MS, RI
1367(E)-Undec-2-enalAL tr MS, RI
1374Butyl benzoateBZ tr MS, RI
1379α-CopaeneS tr MS, RI
1400TetradecaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
1408(Z)-CaryophylleneS 0.1 MS, RI
1425(E)-CaryophylleneS 2.91.8 0.36.5tr MS, RI, CoI
1457α-HumuleneS tr 0.3 MS, RI
1465cis-Muurola-4(14),5-dieneS tr MS, RI
1484Germacrene DS tr 0.1 MS, RI, CoI
14941-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxphenyl)ethan-1-one (syn. apocynin)O 0.1 MS, RI
1500PentadecaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
1501BicyclogermacreneS tr MS, RI, CoI
1502(E)-Methyl isoeugenolO 0.1 MS, RI, Si
1513TridecanalAL tr tr MS, RI
1527δ-CadineneS tr tr MS, RI
1568(E)-NerolidolS 0.5 MS, RI, Si
1570Vanillic acidO tr MS, RI, Si
1575Dodecanoic acidAC tr MS, RI, Si
1581Isovanillic acidO tr MS, Si
1593Caryophyllene oxideS tr 0.3 MS, RI, CoI
1600HexadecaneA trtr tr trMS, RI, CoI
1616TetradecanalAL tr tr MS, RI
1681Tetradecan-1-olALC tr MS, RI, Si
1690(E)-2,3-DihydrofarnesolS 0.4 MS, RI, Si
1699Pentadecan-2-oneK 0.2 trtr MS, RI, CoI
1700HeptadecaneA trtr 0.1 trMS, RI, CoI
1717PentadecanalAL trtr trtr MS, RI, CoI
17363-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid (syn. dihydroferulic acid)O 2.3 MS, RI, Si
1769Benzyl benzoateE tr 4.2 MS, RI
1790Octadec-1-eneAE tr MS, RI
1800OctadecaneA tr0.1 0.4MS, RI, CoI
1820HexadecanalAL tr tr0.1 MS, RI, CoI
1839Neophytadiene (isomer II)D tr MS, RI
1846Hexahydrofarnesyl acetoneO tr MS, RI
1867Phenylethyl benzoateBZ tr tr MS, RI
1885Hexadecan-1-olALC 0.61.4 MS, RI, CoI, Si
1890Nonadec-1-eneAE tr MS, RI
1900NonadecaneA trtr trtrtr tr trMS, RI, CoI
1903Heptadecan-2-oneK 0.4 0.4trtr MS, RI, CoI
1922HeptadecanalAL tr0.1 tr0.1 MS, RI, CoI
1970Hexadecanoic acidAC 0.3 trtr 0.2 trMS, RI, CoI, Si
1987Heptadecan-1-olAE tr MS, RI, Si
2000EicosaneAtr trtr 0.1trtr 0.10.1 0.4MS, RI, CoI
2006Hexadecyl acetateE tr tr0.1 MS, RI
2007Octadecan-2-oneK trMS, RI
2024OctadecanalAL tr trtr trtr MS, RI, CoI
2027(E,E)-Geranyl linaloolD 0.3 0.40.6 MS, RI
2057(Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadien-1-olALC 0.31.6 MS, RI, Si
20632-MethyleicosaneA 0.1tr trtr 0.2trtrMS, RI
2074(E)-Heneicos-10-eneAE tr0.10.5 0.20.3 MS, DMDS
2089Octadecan-1-olALC 0.1 MS, RI, Si
2100HeneicosaneAtr trtr0.3trtr0.20.52.1 0.80.5trtrMS, RI, CoI
2103Methyl linoleateE 0.1 MS, RI
2105γ-HexadecalactoneE tr 0.43.3 2.4tr MS, RI
2113(E)-PhytolD 1.9 0.1 MS, RI, CoI, Si
2127NonadecanalALtr trtrtr 0.1trtr 0.30.2tr MS, RI
2143(Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoic acidAC 0.1 MS, RI, Si
2149(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acidAC 0.3 MS, RI, Si
21632-MethylheneicosaneA tr tr MS, RI
2173(E)-Docos-10-eneAE 0.1 tr tr0.2 MS, DMDS
21733-MethylheneicosaneA tr trMS, RI
2191Ethyl octadecanoateE tr MS, RI
2192Nonadecan-1-olAE tr tr trMS, RI, Si
2190HexadecanamideFAD tr MS, RI
2200DocosaneAtr trtrtrtrtr0.2trtr 0.10.1tr0.3MS, RI, CoI
2210Eicosan-2-oneK trMS, RI
2213Dodecyl benzoateBZ tr trMS, RI, CoI
2229EicosanalALtr trtrtrtrtr0.1tr trtrtrtrMS, RI
2235(Z)-Tricos-10-eneAE 0.1 MS, DMDS
22642-MethyldocosaneAtr tr 0.2tr tr0.3tr tr0.2trtrMS, RI
2275(E)-Tricos-10-ene [f]AE trtr 1.41.0 0.73.1tr MS, RI, DMDS
2275(E)-Tricos-9-ene [f]AE MS, RI, DMDS
2292Tricos-1-eneAE 0.1 tr trMS, RI
2296Eicosan-1-olALC trtr MS, RI, Si
2300TricosaneA3.7tr1.80.20.40.3tr1.22.42.9tr1.53.40.20.2MS, RI, CoI
2312Heneicosan-2-oneK tr tr MS, RI
2315Tridecyl benzoateBZ tr tr trMS, RI, CoI
2332HeneicosanalALtr trtrtrtrtr0.20.30.4 0.30.5tr MS, RI
23652-MethyltricosaneAtr tr 0.1 tr tr MS, RI
23733-MethyltricosaneA 0.2tr tr 0.1tr trMS, RI
2382Hexadecyl hexanoateE tr MS
2390Tetracos-1-eneAE 0.1 trtr0.7tr tr0.3tr0.1MS, RI
2391Ethyl eicosanoateE 0.1 MS, RI
2395OctadecanamideFAD tr MS, RI
2400TetracosaneA0.4trtr0.2tr tr0.2trtr0.10.30.10.3MS, RI, CoI
2414Docosan-2-oneK trMS, RI
2418Tetradecyl benzoateBZ tr0.1tr tr tr0.1 trMS, RI, CoI
2434DocosanalAL0.5 trtr0.10.30.40.1 tr 0.10.10.10.1MS, RI
2435(Z)-Pentacos-10-ene [f]AE 0.10.7 tr0.6 MS, DMDS
2435(Z)-Pentacos-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
2436Octadecyl 3-methylbutanoateE 0.1 MS, RI, CoI
2440(2E,6E)-2,6-Farnesyl benzoateBZ 0.2 MS, RI, CoI
24642-MethyltetracosaneAtr tr 0.1tr trtr 0.10.2 trMS, RI
24743-MethyltetracosaneA 0.7 MS, RI
2475(E)-Pentacos-10-ene [f]AE tr tr 7.31.1 0.92.8 MS, DMDS
2475(E)-Pentacos-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
2492Pentacos-1-eneAE 0.1 MS, RI
249312-Methyltetradecyl benzoateBZtr 0.1tr NEW
2499Docosan-1-olALC 0.7 MS, RI, Si
2500PentacosaneA5.90.55.22.51.00.51.23.68.24.41.62.74.01.01.1MS, RI, CoI
2510(E)-Pentacos-2-eneAE tr MS, RI
2516Tricosan-2-oneK trMS, RI
2521Pentadecyl benzoateBZ tr0.1tr tr tr trMS, RI, CoI
2525Methyl docosanoateE tr MS, RI, CoI
2536TricosanalALtrtrtrtrtrtrtr0.1trtr 0.10.1tr0.1MS, RI
25632-MethylpentacosaneAtr tr 0.1tr0.2 trtr trMS, RI
25743-MethylpentacosaneAtr 0.1tr 0.31.4 0.10.3tr0.1MS, RI
2593Hexacos-1-eneAEtr trtrtrtr0.10.3trtr0.10.30.1trMS, RI
259613-Methylpentadecyl benzoateBZ trtr NEW
2600HexacosaneA1.1tr1.40.3trtrtr1.10.40.3tr0.30.30.20.4MS, RI, CoI
2610(E)-Hexacos-2-eneAE trtr trMS, RI
26121-Docosyl acetateE trtr tr 0.1 MS, RI
2617Tetracosan-2-oneK tr MS, RI
2625Hexadecyl benzoateBZ trtr trtrtr 0.20.1 MS, RI, CoI
2637(Z)-Heptacos-10-ene [f]AE 0.4 0.7tr 0.50.3 MS, DMDS
2637(Z)-Heptacos-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
2638TetracosanalAL1.00.8tr0.10.2 1.40.4 tr 0.3 0.3MS, RI
2643Eicosyl 3-methylbutanoateE 0.40.4 MS, RI
26443-Methylbutyl eicosanoateE tr MS, RI
26632-MethylhexacosaneA0.9 1.0tr0.50.8tr3.91.80.4tr0.40.5 0.6MS, RI
26743-MethylhexacosaneA tr 0.8 trMS, RI
2675(E)-Heptacos-10-ene [f]AEtr tr trtr 2.00.7 1.21.5trtrMS, DMDS
2675(E)-Heptacos-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
2675(E)-Heptacos-8-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
269914-Methylhexadecyl benzoateBZ trtr NEW
2700HeptacosaneA21.43.942.32.31.61.73.116.48.46.84.26.74.93.24.5MS, RI, CoI
2718Pentacosan-2-oneK tr 0.3 tr0.2 trtr0.4 0.2trMS, RI
2728Heptadecyl benzoateBZ tr tr MS, RI, CoI
2730Methyl tetracosanoateE tr MS, RI
2739PentacosanalALtrtrtr0.1trtrtr tr 0.2tr0.10.2MS, RI
2740Eicosyl tiglateE trtr tr NEW
27642-MethylheptacosaneAtr tr trtr 0.2trtr 0.1trtrtrMS, RI
27753-MethylheptacosaneA0.6 tr2.12.7tr0.91.80.4 0.40.7tr1.6MS, RI
2790Octacos-1-eneAE tr 0.2tr trtrtr0.20.1trMS, RI
2800OctacosaneA0.9tr1.90.50.40.3tr1.30.20.4tr0.60.30.31.4MS, RI, CoI
2813Tetracosyl acetateE trtr tr 0.1 trMS, RI
2821Hexacosan-2-oneK trMS, RI
2832Octadecyl benzoateBZ 0.60.4 trtr MS, RI, CoI
2839(Z)-Nonacos-10-eneAE 0.5tr 0.5 MS, DMDS
2840all-(E)-SqualeneT 0.5trtr0.6 tr 0.20.6MS, RI, CoI
2843HexacosanalAL1.42.70.53.03.23.59.4tr 0.30.81.0 2.35.5MS, RI
28642-MethyloctacosaneA1.2tr1.4tr2.52.5tr3.61.70.4 0.60.7tr1.8MS, RI
28743-MethyloctacosaneA 0.3MS, RI
2875(E)-Nonacos-10-ene [f]AEtr tr 1.21.810.01.13.61.2 2.22.5tr0.6MS, DMDS
2875(E)-Nonacos-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
28902-Phenylethyl octadecanoateE tr MS, RI
2900NonacosaneA9.114.212.77.613.915.326.48.23.54.38.66.75.611.710.4MS, RI, CoI
2909Hexacosan-1-olALC 0.6 15.7 tr 10.9MS, RI, Si
2925Heptacosan-2-oneK tr tr1.1 0.5tr1.10.30.60.7MS, RI
2934Methyl hexacosanoateE tr tr 0.3 MS, RI
2936Nonadecyl benzoateBZ trtr trtr MS, RI, CoI
2945HeptacosanalALtrtrtr0.5tr0.4 0.2 tr 0.30.10.40.4MS, RI
2956Tetradecyl tetradecanoateE 0.5tr0.6tr MS, RI
29642-MethylnonacosaneA1.4 1.6 trtr 0.3tr tr trtrtrMS, RI
2969Hexadecyl dodecanoateE 0.1tr MS, RI
29743-MethylnonacosaneA 8.99.40.81.71.90.5 0.61.3tr2.6MS, RI
2975(E)-Triacont-10-eneAEtr 1.30.60.8tr 0.2 0.20.4tr0.7MS, DMDS
2984Hexyl docosanonateE tr MS, RI, CoI
2992Triacont-1-eneAE tr tr MS, RI
3000TriacontaneA0.60.90.82.41.10.9 0.60.20.2tr0.20.61.21.2MS, RI, CoI
3016Hexacosyl acetateEtrtrtr0.3 tr0.60.1trtr 0.10.1 0.2MS, RI
3017TetracosanamideFAD tr MS
3028Octacosan-2-oneK tr tr tr MS, RI
3040Eicosyl benzoateBZ 0.3 4.18.1trtr0.70.1trtr MS, RI, CoI
3042(Z)-Hentriacont-10-eneAEtr 2.00.3 0.21.0tr 0.3 MS, DMDS
3049OctacosanalAL2.42.61.91.12.01.51.70.7 0.91.81.90.66.50.7MS, RI
30632-MethyltriacontaneA2.8tr3.2tr4.95.62.1 2.30.3tr0.51.00.10.7MS, RI
30733-MethyltriacontaneA 5.2 trMS, RI
3078(E)-Hentriacont-10-ene [f]AE1.3 2.3 4.95.7tr2.89.54.1tr5.24.10.1 MS, DMDS
3078(E)-Hentriacont-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
3100HentriacontaneA9.95.913.544.418.413.56.36.04.84.15.03.211.717.18.3MS, RI, CoI
3114Octacosan-1-olE tr 2.4tr 5.5tr 1.3 9.60.8MS, RI, Si
311718-Methyleicosyl benzoateBZtr trtr tr NEW
3130Nonacosan-2-oneKtrtr tr1.1tr0.4tr0.9tr1.6 tr1.1MS, RI
3140Methyl octacosanoateE tr tr MS, RI
3142α-TocopherolO 1.1 tr1.0trMS, RI, CoI, Si
3143Heneicosyl benzoateBZ tr1.1 tr 0.30.3 MS, RI, CoI
3144(Z)-Dotriacont-10-eneAEtr 0.70.80.7tr 0.2 trtr0.6 MS, DMDS
3150Dodecyl octadecanoateE tr 0.4MS, RI
3151Tetradecyl hexadecanoateE 1.6 2.5trtr MS, RI
3152NonacosanalALtrtrtrtr 0.2MS, RI
3152Hexadecyl tetradecanoateE tr 0.30.2 MS, RI
31632-MethylhentriacontaneA 1.4 MS, RI
31733-MethylhentriacontaneA1.7tr1.6 3.53.90.7 1.30.4 0.31.1tr0.6MS, RI
3177(E)-Dotriacont-10-eneAE 0.3 MS, DMDS
3197Nonacosane-12,14-dioneDKtrtr 0.3 1.46.6tr0.9tr MS, HZ, Si
3200DotriacontaneA0.5tr0.41.60.40.2tr0.6tr0.4 0.40.40.50.5MS, RI, CoI
321020-Methylheneicosyl benzoateBZ 0.20.3 trtr tr0.1 MS, RI
3216Octacosyl acetateEtr 0.90.1 0.4 tr 0.40.20.20.1MS, RI
3232Triacontan-2-oneK tr MS, RI
3233Docos-15-en-1-yl benzoateBZtr 0.30.3 tr0.1tr tr0.2 MS, RI
3247Docosyl benzoateBZ0.5tr1.1tr3.36.51.50.52.60.6tr1.10.5 0.5MS, RI, CoI
3254TriacontanalAL0.41.10.60.3 trtr 0.90.2MS, RI
32642-MethyldotriacontaneA0.5 0.40.6tr1.50.2 0.10.1 0.6MS, RI
3278(E)-Tritriacont-10-ene [f]AEtr tr 0.6trtr trtr 0.20.1 MS, DMDS
3278(E)-Tritriacont-9-ene [f]AE MS, DMDS
3290Tritriacont-1-eneAEtr 0.5 tr MS, RI
329516-HentriacontanoneK 5.7trMS, RI
3297Triacontane-14,16-dioneDK tr tr NEW
3300TritriacontaneA2.3tr2.22.70.90.60.31.20.20.41.10.30.80.50.2MS, RI, CoI
3316Triacontan-1-olAE trtr0.4 tr tr0.8 MS, RI, Si
332420-Methyldocosyl benzoateBZtr tr tr tr tr NEW
3334Hentriacontan-2-oneKtrtr 0.3 0.5 trtrtr 1.0MS, RI
33375α-Stigmasta-7,22-dien-3β-olO 1.61.04.8 0.60.70.6MS, RI
3350Tricosyl benzoateBZtr tr tr tr 0.1 MS, RI, CoI
3350Dodecyl eicosanoateE 0.7MS, RI
3351Hexyl 24-methylpentacosanoateE trtr MS, RI
3351Tetradecyl octadecanoateE 0.7 trtr 0.2 0.2 1.10.5 0.3MS, RI
3352Hexadecyl hexadecanoateE tr 0.2 1.70.2 0.8 1.70.70.7 MS, RI
33652-MethyltritriacontaneA0.3 tr MS, RI
33753-MethyltritriacontaneA tr 0.4 MS, RI
3390Hexyl hexacosanoateE trtr MS, RI
3394N-(2-phenylethyl)eicosanamideFAD 0.7 MS
3396Hentriacontane-14,16-dioneDK22.753.0 11.86.941.064.531.013.55.71.1MS, HZ, Si
3400TetratriacontaneA tr MS, RI, CoI
3401Benzyl tetracosanoateE0.43.1 tr MS, RI
341722-Methyltricosyl benzoateBZ trtr 0.6tr tr trMS, RI
342721-Methyltricosyl benzoateBZ tr tr 0.70.4 NEW
3453Tetracosyl benzoateBZtrtrtr0.20.3trtr 0.6trtr 0.2tr0.8MS, RI, CoI
3458DotriacontanalALtr0.6tr0.7 tr 0.40.5MS, RI
3460Hexyl 24-methylhexacosanoateE tr MS, RI
3498Dotriacontane-14,16-dioneDK tr tr NEW
3500PentatriacontaneA0.6tr0.4trtr 0.3trtrtr 0.1 0.1MS, RI, CoI
3508Benzyl pentacosanoateE tr MS, RI
353122-Methyltetracosyl benzoateBZ trtr tr tr trNEW
3538Tritriacontan-2-oneK tr 0.2 0.11.1MS, RI
3556Pentacosyl benzoateBZ tr tr trMS, RI
3590Hexyl octacosanoateE tr MS, RI
3596N-(2-phenylethyl)docosanamideFAD 0.2 MS
3598Tritriacontane-16,18-dioneDK0.45.0 1.7tr6.74.80.62.84.618.6MS, HZ, Si
3600HexatriacontaneAtr MS, RI, CoI
3610Benzyl hexacosanoateEtr1.5 tr 0.4 tr tr MS, RI
362524-Methylpentacosyl benzoateBZ tr trtr tr MS, RI
363523-Methylpentacosyl benzoateBZ tr NEW
3659Benzyl 25-methylhexacosanoateE trtr0.4 tr tr MS, RI
3660Hexacosyl benzoateBZtr 0.2trtr 0.8 tr 0.1 0.3MS, RI
3698Tetratriacontane-16,18-dione trtr NEW
3700HeptatriacontaneAtr tr MS, RI, CoI
3738Pentatriacontan-2-oneK 0.2MS, RI
373924-Methylhexacosyl benzoateBZ tr tr NEW
3764Hexadecyl eicosanoateE trtr tr 0.4 MS, RI
3765Heptacosyl benzoateBZ tr 0.2 0.1 trMS, RI
3798Pentatriacontane-16,18-dioneDK trtr0.1MS, PZ
3812Benzyl octacosanoateEtr0.7 0.1 tr trMS, RI
384425-Methylheptacosyl benzoateBZ tr NEW
3870Octacosyl benzoateBZtrtrtrtr trtrtrtr0.2 MS, RI
394826-Methyloctacosyl benzoateBZ tr trNEW
3950Docosyl hexadecanoateE tr0.2 tr tr tr 0.2 trMS, RI
3951Eicosyl octadecanoateEtr tr 0.3 0.1 MS, RI
3974Nonacosyl benzoateBZ tr trNEW
3980Hexadecyl docosanoateE tr 0.3 MS, RI
Total identified [%] 96.897.899.094.392.294.187.287.290.698.899.093.394.198.988.2
AlkanesA65.825.491.464.761.958.840.961.741.728.920.527.439.636.138.6
AlkenesAE1.3tr2.32.110.210.410.44.628.28.6tr12.514.02.01.4
AldehydesAL5.77.83.05.85.55.712.92.00.31.62.64.52.010.78.2
AlcoholsALC 0.6 18.1 5.5tr 0.95.29.611.7
BenzoatesBZ0.5tr1.40.29.316.71.51.15.00.7tr2.32.6tr1.6
DiterpenoidsD 1.9 0.3 0.40.7
DiketonesDK23.158.0 tr 13.86.949.175.931.617.210.319.7
EstersE0.46.00.93.61.10.42.31.44.66.4tr9.92.70.92.7
Fatty acidsAC 0.3 trtr 0.6 tr
‘Green leaf’G trtr
KetonesKtrtr 0.8tr1.11.11.7tr1.4tr3.50.36.64.1
MonoterpenoidsM tr 0.5
Other compound classesO 1.13.91.04.8 1.219.70.6
Other fatty acid derivativesFAD 0.9
SesquiterpenoidsS 3.41.8 0.37.7tr
TriterpenoidsT 0.5trtr0.6 tr 0.20.6
Unidentified 5.3 2.8
[a] Retention indices determined experimentally on the DB-5MS column relative to a series of C8–C40 n-alkanes. [b] The abbreviations of the compound classes are given at the end of the table. [c] Values are means of three individual analyses; tr, trace amounts (<0.05%). [d] ID = Compound identification: MS, mass spectra matching; RI, retention indices matching with the literature data; CoI, co-injection with a pure reference compound; DMDS, identification by derivatization with dimethyl disulfide; HZ, identification by derivatization with hydrazine; Si, identification by derivatization with trimethylsilyl chloride. [e] Unidentified constituent: MS (EI), m/z(%) 130(5), 112(6), 73(100), 71(8), 69(6), 58(51), 57(46), 56(4), 55(12), 45(8), 43(11), 42(5), 41(6). [f] Alkenes with different double bond locations represented one peak in the GC chromatogram and for that reason, it was not possible to determine their distinct relative amount in the washings.
Table 3. Plant material and relevant data.
Table 3. Plant material and relevant data.
Plant SpeciesPlant PartSampleLocationVoucher NumberYear
D. carthusianorumflowers1aStara Planina166182022
aerial parts1b2022
flowers1cKopaonik166192022
aerial parts1d2022
D. deltoidesflowers2aŠara136752018
flowers2bLake Vlasina163892018
aerial parts2c2018
D. giganteus subsp. banaticusflowers3Deliblatska peščara 166202020
D. integer subsp. minutiflorusflowers4Šara136742018
D. petraeusflowers5aStara Planina166212022
aerial parts5b2022
flowers5cSuva Planina139812018
D. superbusflowers6aLake Vlasina163902018
aerial parts6b2018
P. proliferaflowers7Stara Planina162672022
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MDPI and ACS Style

Mladenović, M.Z.; Ristić, M.N.; Bogdanović, A.I.; Ristić, N.R.; Boylan, F.; Radulović, N.S. Wax Composition of Serbian Dianthus spp. (Caryophyllaceae): Identification of New Metabolites and Chemotaxonomic Implications. Plants 2023, 12, 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112094

AMA Style

Mladenović MZ, Ristić MN, Bogdanović AI, Ristić NR, Boylan F, Radulović NS. Wax Composition of Serbian Dianthus spp. (Caryophyllaceae): Identification of New Metabolites and Chemotaxonomic Implications. Plants. 2023; 12(11):2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112094

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mladenović, Marko Z., Milenko N. Ristić, Andrija I. Bogdanović, Novica R. Ristić, Fabio Boylan, and Niko S. Radulović. 2023. "Wax Composition of Serbian Dianthus spp. (Caryophyllaceae): Identification of New Metabolites and Chemotaxonomic Implications" Plants 12, no. 11: 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112094

APA Style

Mladenović, M. Z., Ristić, M. N., Bogdanović, A. I., Ristić, N. R., Boylan, F., & Radulović, N. S. (2023). Wax Composition of Serbian Dianthus spp. (Caryophyllaceae): Identification of New Metabolites and Chemotaxonomic Implications. Plants, 12(11), 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112094

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