Sesquiterpene lactones. Part XXII. Sesquiterpene lactones in Species of the Genus Chrysanthemum

A method of effective study on sesquiterpeine lactones in unknown plant material was worked out. This method allows the choice of species with high sesquiterpene lactones content and interesting chemical composition. Studies were carried out on 14 species of Chrysanthemum s.l.. The method of elementary appreciation consisted in: estimation of the bitter principle index (assayed by the modified Ph-P.IV. method), quantitative analysis of lactone fractions and chromatographical examination. Quantitative analysis of sesquiterpene lactones in plant material was carried out by the IR spectroscopy method specially adapted for this purpose. Chromatographic examinations were carried out by the thin-layer technique on silica gel. Chromatograms of lactone fractions were developed with 6 selective reagents. The correlation between the bitter principle index and quantitative content of sesquiterpene lactones was ascertained. Bisides great qualitative also quantitative differences were observed between 14 investigated species from Chrysanthemum s.l