Distribution of phenolic compounds in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 611 - 617
• Main Authors: Agostini, Sylvia, Desjobert, Jean-Marie, Pergent, Gérard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: acetosyringone; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; aquatic plants; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; Chemical Sciences; chemical structure; ferulic acid; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitats; herbivorous fishes; interspecific competition; leaf age; leaves; Magnoliophyta; Marine; Organic chemistry; phenolic compounds; plant density; plant tissues; Plants and fungi; Posidonia oceanica; quantitative analysis; water pollution; Mediterranean Sea; phenyl propenoids; phenolic compounds; Posidonia oceanica; marine phanerogam; Posidoniaceae; Mediterranean sea; Monocotyledones; Algae; Marine plant; Biological indicator; Potamogetonaceae; Cinnamic acid(4-hydroxy 3-methoxy); Stress; Phytophagous; Animal plant relation; Angiospermae; Interspecific competition; Intraspecific competition; Phenols; Above ground plant part; Spermatophyta; Chemical composition; Water pollution; Sea grass; Wastes; Thallophyta; HPLC
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01118-7

The qualitative and quantitative variations in phenolic compounds were demonstrated in three types of foliar tissues of Posidonia oceanica living in sites characterized by different environmental conditions: a total of 23 phenolic compounds were identified, two of which are detected for the first time in this phanerogam (pyrogallol and 4-hydroxyacetophenone). The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds was carried out in various Posidonia oceanica foliar tissues using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were taken during the spring and correspond to sites presenting different environmental conditions: over-grazing by herbivores ( Sarpa salpa, Paracentrotus lividus), presence of anthropogenic waste (chemical and organic), interspecific competition with the alga Caulerpa taxifolia and intra-specific competition (dense meadows). A total of 23 compounds were identified and quantitatively analysed; of these, acetosyringone and ferulic acid exhibit the highest concentrations. The level of the compounds found varies with (i) the tissue examined with the highest concentrations being observed in young growing leaves (intermediate leaf blades) and (ii) the environmental conditions (abiotic factors and “stress” conditions).