ESSENTIAL OILS OF BACCHARIS-SALICIFOLIA, B-LATIFOLIA AND B-DRACUNCULIFOLIA

Samples of the essential oil from Baccharis salicifolia, four samples from B. latifolia, and one sample from B. dracunculifolia collected in the high valleys of Bolivia in the province of Cochabamba were analysed by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The identified products may be divided into four different groups: monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and various oxygenated sesquiterpenes such as germacrone and ledol. The latter compounds are characteristic constituents of the essential oils of Ledum groenlanicum. Rather unusual monooxygenated compounds with a cadinane structure were also detected, including verboccidentafuran, chromoleanin and related compounds.