Evolution of volatile emission in Rhus coriaria organs during different stages of growth and evaluation of the essential oil composition

Rhus coriaria, also known as Sumac, has been traditionally used in many countries as spice, condiment, dying agent, and medicinal herb. The chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and the volatile emissions from different organs of this species collected in Sicily (Italy) were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in the volatile emissions with β-caryophyllene and α-pinene were the main constituents in the majority of the examined samples. The EO composition was characterized by high amount of monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons together with diterpenes. The main compounds in the EO obtained from the leaves and both stages of fruit maturation were cembrene and β-caryophyllene, while α-pinene and tridecanoic acid were the key compounds in the flower EO. All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis showing many differences among the different plant parts and their ontogenetic stages.