Safrole analysis by GC-MS of prototrophic (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer) cell cultures

Oltramari, A.C.; Wood, K.V.; Bonham, C.; Verpoorte, R.; Caro, M.S.B.; Viana, A.M.; Pedrotti, E.L.; Maraschin, R.P.; Maraschin, M.

Safrole analysis by GC-MS of prototrophic (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer) cell cultures

2004

Ocotea odorifera, a tree native to the Atlantic rainforest in south Brazil, has been used as a source of sassafras oil rich in safrole [5-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole], an aromatic ether used as a flavoring agent and also in the manufacture of insecticides. The intensive deforestation process of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest has threatened with extinction some species including O. odorifera. In this context, O. odorifera cell cultures might be an interesting alternative for the production of secondary metabolites of value (i.e., safrole), without risk of damage to the native germplasm. Insights into the secondary metabolites of organosolvent extracts of prototrophic cell cultures were performed by GC-MS and MALDI-TOF MS. GC-MS analysis revealed the occurrence of safrole in concentration of ca. 62.6 microgram ml-1 and allowed the identification of other compounds besides safrole in the crude extract of these cultures. Thus, alkyl phenol (C8) [m/z = 206], C14 myristic acid [m/z = 228], long chain olefin or alcohol and essential oil were detected. However, safrole [m/z = 162] was not detected by MALDI-TOF MS, indicating that it is not easily protonated (M + H)+.

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