Volatile composition of six horsetails: prospects and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Equisetum (horsetail) species are recognized for their potential bioactive properties.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to the aroma and bioactivity of plants.
• Understanding the chemical composition of Equisetum is crucial for exploring its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and characterize the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in six different Equisetum species.
• To identify the biosynthetic pathways contributing to the detected VOCs.
• To assess the potential of Equisetum as a source of bioactive compounds and functional feed ingredients.

Main Methods:

• Organic solvent extraction was employed to isolate volatile compounds.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the identification and analysis of VOCs.
• Biosynthetic pathways (shikimic, lipidic, terpenic) were inferred based on identified compounds.

Main Results:

• Seventy-five VOCs were detected, originating from shikimic, lipidic, and terpenic pathways.
• Specific species exhibited distinct VOC profiles: E. palustre var. americana (lipidic), E. arvense (isoprenoids, benzenic derivatives), E. telmateia (isoprenoids, benzenic derivatives).
• E. hyemale and E. ramosissimum showed complex profiles with ferulic acid isomers, while E. scirpioides had high isoprenoid content.

Conclusions:

• Equisetum species are rich sources of diverse volatile organic compounds, including flavor precursors and aromatic compounds.
• The identified VOCs suggest significant potential for Equisetum as bioactive litter and novel functional feed ingredients.
• Further research into the specific bioactivities and applications of these Equisetum-derived compounds is warranted.