Studies on chemical composition and phenolic extractives of some maquis species

Abstract

In this study which focused on Styrax officinalis, Fontanesia philliraeoides, Myrtus communis, Paliurus spina-christi and Pistacia terebinthus, the chemical composition and the phenolic extractives in the maquis plants were determined. Practicability of mentioned species as raw material in the forest industry and in the production of antioxidant was examined. In the samples, the following values were determined: Holocellulose 72.20-74.64%, cellulose 50.93-53.48%, α-cellulose 41.16-43.50%, lignin 22.22-24.46%, ash 1.72-2.63%, ethanol cyclohexane solubility 2.33-3.15%, cold water solubility 10.21-15.27%, hot water solubility 10.41-15.92% and 1% NaOH solubility between 26.64-30.09%. HPLC analyses indicated that chlorogenic acid (0.15 mg/g) was the major phenolic extractive in the Styrax officinalis, gallic acid (0.59 and 0.91 mg/g) in the Myrtus communis and Pistacia terebinthus, catechin (0.08 mg/g) in the Fontanesia philliraeoides and epicatechin (0.85 mg/g) in the Paliurus spina-christi. The results showed that the obtained values from mentioned maquis species were found to be at a sufficient level for raw material in the forest industry and in the production of commercial antioxidant.

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