A study on the volatile compounds of european yew(Taxus baccata L.) leaves

In this study, volatile compounds of European Yew (Taxus baccata L.) leaves grown naturally in Yenice Forest were investigate according to the different altitudes.Test samples were collected from upper, middle and lower branches of the yew in August 2009. The samples were kept in a deep freeze storage at the Herbarium of Bartın Faculty of Forestry.Samples were rapidly prepared using hydro distilation method in order to minimize the loss of volatile compounds.At the end of the hydro distillation method, extracts were analysed by using GC and GC-MS methods. As a result of the analysis, 29 volatile compounds have been detected and 7 of them could be identified. These are Hexanol, Hexanal, Hex-3(Z)-enol, Hex-2(E)-enol, Octanol, Octen-3-ol and MrytenolThe compounds that have been identified were examined according to the altitude. At 800 m . Hexanol (0.24mg/g), Hex-3-(Z)-enol (0.64mg/g) and Hex-2-(E)-enol (0.14mg/g) were identified. Octen-3-ol, Hexanal, and Myrtenol compounds were not detected. At 900 m . Hexanal (0.01mg/g), Hexanol (0.04mg/g), Hex-3-(Z)-enol (0.17mg/g), Hex-2-(E)-enol (0.02mg/g), Octen -3-ol (0.04mg/g) are detected. Myrtenol and Octanol were not deteceted. At 1100 m . Octen-3-ol (0.01 mg/g) Hex-3-(Z)-enol (0.34 mg/g) Hex-2-(E)-enol (0.08mg/g), Hexanal (0.02 mg/g), Hexanol (0.14 mg/g), Myrtenol (0.01mg/g) and Octanol (0.01mg/g) were identified. At 1200 m . Hexanal (0.14 mg/g), Hexanol (0.36 mg /g), Hex -3-(Z)-enol (2.66mg/g), Hex-2-(E)-enol (0.35mg/g), Octen-3-ol (0.53mg/g), Octanol (0.02mg/g) and Myrtenol (0.02 mg/g) were identified. At 1300 m . Hexanal (0.07 mg/g), Hex 3(Z)-enol (1.01mg/g), Hex-2-(E)-enol (0.08 mg/g), Octen-3-ol(0.71 mg/g) have been identified