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Distribution and variability of n-alkanes in waxes of conifers

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Abstract

Epicuticular waxes have vital roles in the growth and development of plants and in defense. Conifers have a considerable amount of waxes on their cones and leaves. Here we characterized the n-alkane composition of Iranian conifers, including Juniperus oblonga, J. foetidissima, J. sabina, J. communis subsp. hemisphaerica, J. excelsa, Cupressus sempervirens, Platycladus orientalis from Cupressaceae and Taxus baccata from Taxaceae for the first time using GC-FID analyses. In the waxes, 25 n-alkane homologs with chain lengths ranging from C7 to C32 were identified. Short-chain n-alkanes were dominant in almost all samples with some exceptions. Complementary studies to elucidate complete wax constituents of Iranian conifers and n-alkane distribution pattern as a function of geographical and bioclimatic variables are recommended.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge their gratitude to the authorities of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for financial support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Research Centre, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohamad Hassanzadeh-Khayyat & Hamideh Moalemzadeh Haghighi

  2. Student Research Committee, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Maryam Akaberi

  3. Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  4. Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  5. School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amirhossein Sahebkar

  6. Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Seyed Ahmad Emami

Authors
  1. Mohamad Hassanzadeh-Khayyat
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  2. Maryam Akaberi
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  3. Hamideh Moalemzadeh Haghighi
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  4. Amirhossein Sahebkar
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  5. Seyed Ahmad Emami
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seyed Ahmad Emami.

Additional information

Project funding: The study was fully funded by the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Research Council.

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Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.

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Hassanzadeh-Khayyat, M., Akaberi, M., Moalemzadeh Haghighi, H. et al. Distribution and variability of n-alkanes in waxes of conifers. J. For. Res. 30, 429–433 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0639-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0639-0

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