GC-MS Analysis for Phytochemical Profiling of Different Salix Clones

Since time immemorial, genus Salix has been well known for its ethnobotanical uses for the treatment of various health ailments. Willow bark and leaf extracts contain a heterogeneous mixture of different chemical entities. Rapid extract screening techniques are frequently required to generate the phytochemical profile of bioactive compounds in plant parts. Metabolic profiles are generally genetically determined in plants. However, their quantification may exhibit variations under different environmental conditions. In order to estimate the magnitude of variability in the level of chemical composition among different hybrid clones of Salix (UHFS 08, UHFS 34, UHFS 39, and UHFS 40), phytochemical profiling of bark and leaves was performed with Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Putative identification extrapolated the presence of various secondary metabolites, volatile oils, acid esters, organic acids, and other compounds that mark these clones as pharmaceutically important. All extracts of studied Salix clones contained phytochemical important compounds such as 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, 2,3-bis[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]propyl ester, ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol, acetate, (3a-22E)-1-monolinoleoyl glycerol trimethylsilyl ether and ethyl iso-allocholate. Salicylic acid derivatives from the willow shoots are of great interest due to their pharmacological activity, which has been identified in UHFS 08 and UHFS 39 methanolic bark extracts.