Alkylresorcinols in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. distichon) grains

This study was carried out to compare grains of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. distichon) regarding contents and compositions of 5-n-alkylresorcinols. Mixtures of resorcinol homologues were isolated from acetone extracts from five barley cultivars. These polyketide metabolites were identified by chromatographic and spectroscopic means. The content and homologue patterns among different varieties were similar. The predominant compounds were 1,3-dihydroxy-5-n-heneicosylbenzene (C-21:0), 1,3-dihydroxy-5-n-nonadecylbenzene (C-19:0) and 1,3-dihydroxy-5-n-pentacosylbenzene (C-25:0). The alkylresorcinol concentrations, in contrast to their compositions, depended on environmental and agricultural factors.