Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) extracts of Gundelia tournefortii L. (Asteraceae) belonging to the family Asteraceae, were prepared and their composition was analyzed by GC-MS. Among the fatty acids analyzed, the relative percentage of Linoleic acid methyl ester was high in oil seeds of G.tournefortii (43.98%). The other extracts showed higher percentage Oleic acid methyl ester (28.29%), Palmitic acid methyl ester (13.42%) and 8-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester (6.89%).

Keywords: gundelia tournefortii, asteraceae, fatty acid esters, linoleic acid

Gundelia tournefortii L., is a medicinal plant belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, which grown in the Asian temperate zones of Western Asia¹ it is found in the semi-desert areas of Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and Turkey.^2,3 Gundelia tournefortii is common name of tumbleweed, akub (kuub or aqub) and kanger in English, Arabic and Kurdish respectively.⁴ One species of Gundelia recorded in flora of Iranica Gundelia tournefortii,⁵ as well as in flora of Turkey only G. tournefortii recorded, but his flowers are giving different color as "green, yellow, white, maroon or red", it was glabrous or arachnoid.⁶ While in Armenia G. rosea is given as a synonym of G. tournefortii.⁷ But recently two new taxa well defined localities of Gundelia namely G. aragatsi and G. aragatsi.⁸ The plant is grown well in different localities, It is not able to grow in shade, but prefers sandy and loamy or acid, neutral and alkaline, drained and moist soils.⁹

In Current decade, many researchers have studies Gundelia tournefortii L. especially chemical components and pharmacological properties such as.^4,10-18 All parts of G. tournefortii are used in medicinal plant for 2000 years, it is traditionally used for treatment of liver diseases, chest pain, diabetes, angina pectoris, vitiligo, stroke, gastric ailments, hypoglycemic, Laxative, sedative, diarrhea and bronchitis, skin diseases, pain, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, digestive disorders, high blood pressure and cancer.^4,19–22 The Compounds found in Gundelia may be proved to have several pharmacological effects, it is reported to have anti-parasite antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiseptic and emetic effects and hypolipemic activities blood purifier.^2,15,20 The stems and leaves of Gundelia tournefortii are used as food ingredients in soups and salads.²³

In several of studies chemical compositions were identified and the amount of the yields specially oils or volatile oil studied by Jamshidzadeh et al.²⁴ and reported that the major components of the of G. tournefortii was α-terpinyl acetate (36.21%), methyl eugenol (12.57%), eugenol (6.7%), β-Caryophellene (5.94%), and zingiberene (5.84%). Fatty acids were varied between the part of plant, flower bud contains linoleic (57.8%), oleic (28.5%), palmitic (8.1%), stearic, vacsenic and arachidic acids. Abdul et al. (2012) reported that the fatty acid composition of the seed oil of Gundelia L. contain myristic, palmitic, palmitolic, heptadecanoic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. high level of seed's oil recorded in oleic and linoleic acids contents of oil were 27.99% and 54.59%, respectively.²⁵ The total content of vitamin E was 51.9mg/100g.¹² Caffeic acid and caffeic acid derivatives, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and chlorogenic acid isolated by Matthaus.⁴ While Farhang et al.,²² relived that major components were palmitic acid (12.48%), lauric acid (10.59%), alpha ionene (6.68%), myristic acid (4.45%), 1-hexadecanol, 2-methyl (3.61%), phytol (3.6%), and beta turmerone (3.4%). Gundelia tournefortii contains sterol; it was 3.7666g/kg which included β-sitosterol (51.76%), stigmasterol (18.52%), 5-avenasterol (9.82%), campesterol (6.02%), 7-stigmastenol (3.68%) and 7-avenasterol (2.63%). From aerial parts, isolated scopoletin, isoscopoletin, esculin, and a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol components.³

Plant material

Gundelia tournefortii L. seeds were collected from North region of Iraq and dried in a standard situation without light. For extraction 150g of the powdered leaf material was taken. The powdered material was transferred into 250ml quick fit flask and extracted in the soxhlet extractor for 48hours by using organic solvents hexane 500ml. The extracts were filtered over Whatman No. 1 filter paper, and the filtrates were concentrated under reduced pressure to pasty mass for further studies.

Gas chromatography-MS analysis

GC-MS analysis

GC-MS analysis was performed in University of Basrah, College of Agriculture, Iraq. GC-MS analysis was performed by using Shimadzu GC-QP 2010 Ultra gas chromatograph, The GC oven temperature was programmed from 40°C to 280 °C at a rate of 15°C/min. Helium was used as carrier gas; inlet pressure was 96.1 kPa; linear velocity was 47.2cm/sec. Column flow was 1.71 mL/min, Injector temperature: 280°C; injection mode: split. MS scan conditions: source temperature, 200°C; interface temperature, 280°C; Detector Gain, 0.69 kV +0.10 kV; Scan speed, 1666. Start 50m/z, End 800m/z. The components of the Gundelia tournefortii fatty oil were identified by comparing the spectra with those of known compounds stored in the NIST library (2005) (Figure 1-10).

Figure 1 Chromatogram of fatty acid of Gundelia tournefortii L. seeds.

Figure 2 A typical gas chromatogram of the Octane,3,5-dimethyl.

Figure 3 A typical gas chromatogram of the Dodecane.

Figure 4 A typical gas chromatogram of the Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester(Palmitic acid methyl ester).

Figure 5 A typical gas chromatogram of the Methyl 10- trans,12-cis-octadienoate.

Figure 6 A typical gas chromatogram of the Oleic acid, methyl ester(or Emery oleic acid ester).

Figure 7 A typical gas chromatogram of the 8- Octadecanoic acid(Z)-methyl ester(or Stearic acid ester).

Figure 8 A typical gas chromatogram of the Tridecanedial.

Figure 9 A typical gas chromatogram of the Methyl 18-methylnonadecanoate.

Figure 10 A typical gas chromatogram of the 1,2-Benzendicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester.

The GC-MS analysis of Gundelia tournefortii seed extract revealed the presence of 10 compounds (phytochemical constituents) (Figure 1) (Table 1) that could contribute to the medicinal property of the plant. The identification of the phytochemical compounds was confirmed based on the peak area, molecular formula and retention time. The active principles with their retention time (RT), molecular formula and peak area in percentage are presented in Table 1.

Most of the chemical components identification of Gundelia tournefortii L. seeds represented fatty acid methyl ester, four components represented major contents in oil, the percentage of higher fatty acid were Linoleic acid methyl ester 43.98%, Oleic acid methyl ester or (Emery oleic acid ester) were 28.29% and then Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester was 13.42%. The components such as 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (Table 1). Our results agree with^24,25 but not agree with²² The Phytochemical found in Gundelia tournefortii important as anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, cancer preventive, hepatoprotective, nematicide insectifuge, antihistaminic antieczemic, antiacne, antiandrogenic, antiarthritic, anticoronary and insectifuge properties. Previously, 9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, also known as α- linolenic acid methyl ester known to inhibit proliferation of ER-positive and ER- negative breast cancer cells (Banua and Nagarajanb).

The plant Gundelia tournefortii rich with chemical groups including terpenes, hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, esters and phenols, Farhang et al.,²² recorded 70 compounds belonged to six main which were identified in Gundelia tournefortii. Our results not agree with him that the major components were palmitic acid (12.48%)and then lauric acid (10.59%), which may be occurred thus different the region, on the other hand, many researchers found two important factors, genetic and environmental factors, have the major effect on the genesis, formation, presence and absence of available constituents in the mentioned plant.

Because the high oil content of Gundelia seed (22.8%), it is a potent source for extraction of edible oil. Ragasa et al.³ noticed that the fatty acid composition of this oil was similar to soybean and sunflower oils, while several of researchers found G. tournefortii a rich source of volatile oils, minerals and vitamins A, B and C, can be a good source of protein^1,24 and Ng, 2015 In addition, G. tournefortii had high potential for accumulating arsenic, perhaps very effective for removing contamination from soils Mallavadhani et al.⁴

Results from this study have shown that the fatty acid contains compounds with proven pharmacological effects. GC-MS analysis revealed that 10 different chemical components were identified in the G. tournefortii. The high amounts of Linoleic acid methyl ester (43.98%). Type of GC-MS analysis is the first step towards understanding the nature of active principles in this medicinal plant and will be helpful for further detailed study .as well as gives a clear picture about the pharmaceutical value of that plantand their diversity and detailed photochemistry may add new knowledge to the information in the traditional medical systems.^26,27

None.

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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