Long chain polyisoprenoid alcohols in leaves of Capparis species

Leaves of twelve species of the genus Capparis were examined for the presence of long chain polyisoprenoid alcohols. In a number of species the accumulation of polyisoprenoid alcohols was up to about 0.3% of dry weight of tissue. In all studied species polyisoprenoid alcohols composed of 12, 13, 14 or 15 isoprene residues formed the main polyprenol family. In the majority of the plants studied lower quantities of an additional polyprenol family were present, in which prenologues composed of 19, 20 or 21 isoprene units were dominating. In one species--Capparis coriacea also the presence of dolichol-like polyprenols with a hydrogenated OH-terminal isoprene unit was documented.