The literature survey has revealed plenty of data. As a well-known industrial aromatic plant with different food and pharmaceutical applications, FV is thoroughly investigated. Thus, much research has been conducted so far to investigate its chemical composition. The results differ greatly depending on harvest time, region, and plant part, among other factors
[4]. Some authors pointed out the FVEO composition is mostly dependent on the maturation period
[41][42]. Generally, phenylpropanoid derivatives ANE and EST and monoterpenoids
α-phellandrene,
α-pinene, limonene, and FEN are usually reported as the main characterizing compounds
[4][10][12][13][15][16][43][44]. The prevalence of monoterpenoids over the fraction of phenylpropanoids in the vegetative parts of FV can be considered as some general characteristic
[15][16][45]. Contrary to that, EO obtained from fennel fruits is commonly characterized by the prevalence of the phenylpropanoid fraction, the presence of which is a stable characteristic, not dependent on origin
[14][46]. The authors distinguished three intraspecific chemovarieties: FEN-rich, ANE-rich and EST-rich. Another study resulted in two different fruit-oil chemotypes: FEN-EST and FEN-ANE
[43]. Phenylpropanoid content appeared to be associated with varieties, since
azoricum and
dulce were found to contain mostly ANE, while EST was found in prevalence in the
vulgare variety
[47]. All these analyses are in accordance with the results obtained for the samples from Podgorica (F1–F4) presented herein (
Table 1). Undoubtedly, the FVEO from Podgorica belongs to the ANE chemotype. In addition, a comparison with the results from the previous report showed certain similarities
[4]. In that study, a 24-h fractionated steam distillation procedure was applied to the FV material from Italy (Tarquinia, Viterbo) and was monitored for 3 months, including vegetative and reproductive stages. A great increase in EO yield (up to 5 times) was noticed in October (fruiting material, the only one comparable with the results presented herein), as well as a substantial difference in EO composition. EST was identified as the highest-level main constituent for those EO samples, being particularly abundant in the first 6 h (up to 57.6%), accompanied by a significant amount of FEN (up to 14.1%). A gradual decrease with the extraction duration was observed for both of these compounds. This trend can be equated with FVEOs from Podgorica, although the EST content in the samples from Italy was drastically larger.
Table 1. Chemical composition (%) of FV essential oils (FVEOs) from Podgorica analyzed by GC/MS and HS-GC/MS.
| N° |
Component 1 |
LRIlit 2 |
LRI 3 |
LRI 4 |
F1 |
F1HS |
F2 |
F2HS |
F3 |
F3HS |
| F9 |
|---|
| F4 |
F4HS |
Chemical profiles of the EO samples from Nikšić (F5-F8) and Kotor (F9–F12), however, cannot be related to any of those already reported (
Table 2 and
Table 3); this is primarily because of the high amount of TER (from 32.1% to 56.5%). This monoterpenoid, always accompanied by the lower amount of FEN, is combined with a significant amount of the phenylpropanoid ANE (up to 49.5%). Still, there is a slight difference between these localities: Whereas the samples from Kotor are quite rich in ANE, the ones from Nikšić are characterized by the prevalence of the monoterpene fraction. Accordingly, a new chemotype from Montenegro rich in TER can be defined.
Table 2. Chemical composition (%) of FVEOs from Nikšić analyzed by GC/MS and HS-GC/MS.
| N° |
Component 1 |
LRIlit 2 |
LRI 3 |
LRI 4 |
F5 |
F5HS |
F6 |
F6HS |
F7 |
F7HS |
F8 |
F8HS |
| F12 |
F12HS |
| 1 |
α-pinene |
| 1 | 1021 |
| - |
1.5 |
- |
| 1018 |
933 |
- |
2.3 |
- |
0.2 |
- |
| 0.5 |
- |
2.4 |
| α | -pinene |
1021 |
1018 |
933 |
- | 0.3 |
0.9 |
- |
2.2 |
- | - |
- |
- |
- |
| 2 |
camphene |
1063 |
1060 |
944 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.2 |
| 0.1 |
| 2 |
camphene |
1063 |
1060 |
944 |
- |
| 3 |
β-pinene |
1108 |
1100 |
980 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.2 |
| -pinene |
1108 |
1100 |
980 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 4 |
β -myrcene |
1160 |
1155 |
984 |
| 4 |
| - |
0.5 |
0.1 |
1.7 |
| β |
| - |
| -myrcene |
| 1.7 |
0.2 |
3.4 |
| 5 |
α-phellandrene |
1177 |
1173 |
1004 |
0.2 |
3.4 |
0.3 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
3.5 |
0.3 |
5.5 |
| 6 |
limonene |
1198 |
1200 |
986 |
0.1 |
2.0 |
0.3 |
3.7 |
0.3 |
3.9 |
0.4 |
6.4 |
| 7 |
| 2 |
camphene |
1063 |
1060 |
944 |
- |
0.5 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
- |
| 3 |
β-pinene |
1108 |
1100 |
980 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 4 |
β-myrcene |
1160 |
1155 |
984 |
0.4 |
1160 |
1155 |
984 |
0.11.9 |
0.2 |
1.7 |
1.0 |
0.40.3 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
- |
1.10.3 |
2.9 |
| - |
1.3 |
5 |
α-phellandrene |
1177 |
1173 |
1004 |
| 5 | 0.2 |
α-phellandrene | 1.0 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
0.8 |
- |
0.8 |
1177 |
1173 |
1004 |
0.2 |
1.9 |
0.4 |
986 |
0.5 |
2.4 |
0.6 |
3.4 |
0.8 |
5.2 |
0.9 |
6.1 |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
3.2 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
- |
| β | -phellandrene |
1205 |
| 1.0 |
6 |
limonene |
| 6 | 1198 |
limonene | 1200 |
1198 |
1200 |
986 |
0.3 |
2.1 |
0.8 |
4.5 |
0.3 |
2.5 |
0.3 |
3.6 |
| 1206 |
1026 |
- |
- |
| 7 |
β |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.5 |
| -phellandrene |
1205 |
1206 |
1026 |
- |
0.4 |
- |
| 7 | - |
- |
0.2 |
- |
β | 0.1 |
| -phellandrene |
1205 |
1206 |
1026 |
- |
0.4 |
- |
0.6 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
| 8 |
1,8-cineole |
1209 |
1211 |
998 |
0.2 |
1.6 |
| 8 |
1,8-cineole |
1209 |
1211 |
| 0.4 |
4.5 |
0.3 |
| 998 |
0.6 |
| 4.0 |
0.4 |
5.2 |
| 2.7 |
0.4 |
2.2 |
0.4 |
2.5 |
0.4 |
| 8 | 2.3 |
| 1,8-cineole |
1209 |
1211 |
998 |
0.5 |
3.3 |
0.7 |
3.9 |
0.2 |
1.9 |
0.2 |
2.1 |
| 9 |
γ-terpinene |
1243 |
1242 |
1071 |
0.1 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
| 9 |
γ-terpinene |
1243 |
1242 |
1071 |
| 3.6 |
| 0.2 |
0.9 |
0.4 |
1.5 |
0.4 |
2.2 |
0.5 |
2.5 |
| 9 |
γ-terpinene |
1243 |
1242 |
1071 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
0.5 |
2.5 |
| 0.4 |
4.7 |
0.6 |
7.1 |
| 0.3 |
2.1 |
0.3 |
2.8 |
| 10 |
p-cymene |
1268 |
1271 |
1030 |
0.2 |
2.4 |
0.1 |
1.3 |
- |
0.8 |
- |
| 10 |
| 1.1 |
| p-cymene |
1268 |
1271 |
1030 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
- |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
- |
0.3 |
| 11 |
terpinolene |
1282 |
| 10 |
p-cymene |
1268 |
1271 |
1030 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
- |
0.4 |
- |
0.4 |
| 1284 |
1078 |
- |
- |
- |
0.2 |
| 11 |
terpinolene |
1282 |
1284 |
1078 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
| 11 | 0.5 |
| terpinolene |
1282 |
1284 |
1078 |
| - |
| - |
0.1 |
- |
0.2 |
| 0.2 |
- |
0.4 |
| - |
0.3 |
- |
0.4 |
| 12 |
fenchone |
1422 |
1420 |
1082 |
9.1 |
24.5 |
7.5 |
32.7 |
5.1 |
26.8 |
3.4 |
15.9 |
| 12 |
fenchone |
1422 |
1420 |
1082 |
30.9 |
62.0 |
19.2 |
50.6 |
16.9 |
43.0 |
10.9 |
29.1 |
| 12 |
fenchone |
1422 |
1420 |
1082 |
17.8 |
53.0 |
16.4 |
42.4 |
10.7 |
34.4 |
7.1 |
30.1 |
| 13 |
fenchyl acetate |
1470 |
1465 |
1210 |
0.2 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 13 |
fenchyl acetate |
1470 |
1465 |
1210 |
0.2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 13 |
fenchyl acetate |
1470 |
1465 |
1210 |
0.2 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
- |
- |
| 14 |
camphor |
1507 |
1501 |
1135 |
0.2 |
- |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
| 14 |
camphor |
1507 |
1501 |
1135 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
| 14 |
camphor |
1507 |
1501 |
1135 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
| 15 |
terpinen-4-ol |
1603 |
1601 |
1175 |
0.6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 15 |
| - |
| terpinen-4-ol |
1603 |
1601 |
1175 |
- |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.2 |
- |
| 15 |
terpinen-4-ol |
1603 |
1601 |
1175 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
0.1 |
- |
0.1 |
- |
| 16 |
estragole |
1655 |
1658 |
1178 |
6.4 |
10.4 |
6.1 |
7.6 |
5.8 |
7.7 |
5.1 |
6.4 |
| 16 |
estragole |
1655 |
1658 |
1178 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 16 | - |
| estragole |
1655 |
1658 |
1178 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 17 |
α-terpineol |
1729 |
1730 |
1190 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 17 |
α-terpineol |
1729 | 32.9 |
53.9 |
36.5 |
56.5 |
45.3 |
| - |
- |
- |
| 3 |
β |
- |
1730 |
1190 |
43.1 |
20.9 |
49.6 |
| 18 |
anethole |
| 17 |
α-terpineol |
1729 |
1730 |
1190 |
32.1 |
23.1 |
36.1 |
26.9 |
41.5 |
40.2 |
42.2 |
52.5 |
| 1837 |
1840 |
1260 |
82.7 |
53.5 |
84.5 |
38.2 |
87.8 |
45.7 |
89.5 |
| 18 |
anethole |
1837 |
1840 |
1260 |
| 18 |
anethole |
1837 | 22.8 |
3.3 |
28.0 |
5.4 |
1840 | 26.5 |
5.5 |
| 45.1 |
| 30.0 |
1260 |
47.7 |
10.7 |
43.8 |
10.5 |
46.4 |
15.5 | 9.5 |
| 49.5 |
5.4 |
| Total (%) |
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
99.9 |
100.0 |
| Total (%) |
| 100.0 |
| |
|
|
|
99.9 |
100.0 |
| Total (%) |
|
| 100.0 |
99.7 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
| 100.0 |
|
99.9 |
99.9 |
99.799.8 |
| 100.0 |
100.0 |
99.9 |
99.9 |
100.0 |
| Monoterpenoids |
|
|
|
|
9.3 |
26.1 |
7.9 |
37.2 |
5.4 |
30.8 |
3.8 |
21.1 |
| Monoterpenoids |
|
|
|
|
31.5 |
64.7 |
19.6 |
52.8 |
17.3 |
45.5 |
| Monoterpenoids | 11.3 |
|
|
|
| 31.4 |
| Monoterpenes |
| 18.3 |
56.3 |
17.5 |
46.3 |
10.9 |
36.3 |
7.3 |
32.2 |
| |
|
|
|
0.3 |
4.6 |
0.6 |
6.8 |
0.4 |
7.4 |
0.8 |
12.0 |
| Monoterpenes |
|
|
|
|
0.7 |
3.8 |
0.6 |
| Monoterpenes | 3.7 |
0.9 |
5.5 |
0.9 |
| 6.2 |
| |
|
|
0.6 |
3.9 |
1.0 |
5.4 |
0.3 |
3.9 |
| Monoterpenes alcohol |
|
|
|
|
0.6 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Monoterpenes alcohol |
|
|
|
|
43.1 |
20.9 |
49.7 |
32.9 |
54.0 |
36.5 |
56.7 |
45.3 |
| 0.3 |
4.9 |
| Monoterpenes alcohol |
|
|
|
|
32.1 |
23.1 |
36.1 |
26.9 |
41.6 |
40.2 |
42.3 |
52.5 |
| Monoterpenes cyclic |
|
|
|
|
0.1 |
5.4 |
0.6 |
9.7 |
0.5 |
7.9 |
0.7 |
15.2 |
| Monoterpenes cyclic |
|
|
|
| Others |
|
|
|
|
89.5 |
63.9 |
90.9 |
46.3 |
93.7 |
53.8 |
94.7 |
51.7 |
| |
| 0.3 |
| 6.7 |
| 1.5 |
| 4.4 |
| 0.9 |
| 6.6 |
| 0.9 |
| 7.1 |
| Others |
| |
| |
|
|
23.8 |
3.9 |
28.6 |
5.9 |
26.9 |
5.9 |
30.2 |
9.8 |
Intraspecific chemical polymorphism is quite common in aromatic plants. It depends on a combination of factors related to the environment and genetics, as well as the anatomical and physiological characteristics of plants. These factors are difficult to verify, so the existence of different chemotypes is often not clearly related to the possible causes
[5]. Keeping in mind the significant climatic and geographic differences between the three selected localities, a certain relationship between chemical variations and habitats can be suggested. However, additional ecological and eco-physiological analyses are needed.
The study presented herein also included the vapor phase analysis. The samples were characterized by an increase in the monoterpene fraction, mainly represented by FEN and TER. The percentages of FEN were particularly higher: Up to 4 times than the ones reported in the liquid phases, even 5 times in some fractions of FVEO from Podgorica (F3HS). However, some other minor compounds enhanced their amounts with vaporizing, such as
α-phellandrene (5, up to 5.5%), limonene (6, up to 6.4%), 1,8-cineole (8, up to 5.2%), and
γ-terpinene (9, up to 7.1%). Whereas the samples from Podgorica were still abundant in phenylpropanoids (with ANE being in prevalence over EST), the ones from Nikšić and Kotor were significantly deprived of this fraction.
A search of the literature available has revealed little data regarding this type of analysis. However, while FVEO’s vapor phase has not been analyzed, the headspace aroma of certain FV organs has. Thus, an analysis on the
azoricum variety included bulbs and aerial parts material from Egypt, Spain, and Holland. The analysis showed that monoterpenes prevailed in most headspace matrices, with an abundance of 6 (up to 61.54%) followed by a significant amount of ANE, particularly in the Egyptian samples
[48]. Further, another study included a comprehensive aroma profiling amongst FV fruit accessions of various origins reporting the predominance of ANE, particularly in the
vulgare variety. Additionally, an
azoricum variety accession from Austria was rich in EST and FEN as well
[24].
The volatile analysis of the FVEO samples presented herein revealed chemical profiles quite different from the corresponding ones in the liquid phases, generally with much higher amounts of low-boiling components and smaller amounts of the heaviest ones (
Figures S1–S6, Supplementary Materials). Moreover, the headspace injection allowed the identification of some constituents (
1,
2,
3, and
7) not found with the liquid phase analysis, thus highlighting the capability of this technique of minor compounds detection. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this analysis has been the pioneer for FVEO.
Bearing in mind the great influence of the chemical composition on the biological properties, as well as the effects of synergism and/or antagonism between the main and/or minor compounds, various further investigations can be suggested. In that sense, FVEO samples from Nikšić and Kotor abundant in TER have a priority of importance due to the numerous biological applications of this monoterpenoid.