For all these reasons, this study emphasised the qualitative aspects in the two methods. Using the HS-SPME technique, a major number of substances were extracted in fruit and leaf samples in both stages of maturation. In all the HS-SPME analyses a large scope of monoterpenes was isolated while the HD method was more likely to lose these substances during the analytical procedure (extraction and storage) as showed by the great variability from one sample to another. HS-SPME is a rapid and sensitive technique,

being adequate for the detection of volatile substances. On the other hand HD is able to extract oxygenated monoterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes that were not detected by HS-SPME. The HD method involves more steps and time analysis that can lead to chemical changes. this website Oxygenated compounds such as terpineol, carotol, guaiol, α-cadinol, caryophyllene oxide and AZD2014 humulene epoxide II were detected only by HD. The presence of some of these substances may be understood as products of thermal oxidation occurring during the distillation process (Schossler et al., 2009).

Essential oil composition depends upon internal and external factors affecting the plant such as genetic structures and ecological conditions (Telci, Toncer, & Sahbaz, 2006). Maturation stages constitute an important factor influencing essential oil composition in some plants (Telci, Demirtas, & Sahin, 2009). Msaada et al. (2007) reported geranyl acetate (46%) as the main component in immature fruit essential oil of coriander, while limonene is the main component of mature fruit. Telci, Bayram, Yilmaz, and Avci (2006) reported similar findings in coriander with limonene contents varying from immature fruit (30%) to full mature fruit (77%). The major compounds found in the immature

fruit of M. indica var. coquinho were terpinolene, α-gurjunene, α-humulene, E-caryophyllene. The phenylpropanoid p-cymen-8-ol was detected in significant amounts only by HD. In immature leaves cyperene, E-caryophyllene, α-humulene and terpinolene were the main compounds found. The oxygenated sesquiterpenes carotol, guaiol and α-cadinol were detected only by HD. The PLEK2 major compounds extracted of the mature fruit were terpinolene, E-caryophyllene, α-gurjunene and α-humulene. In mature leaves cyperene, α-gurjunene, E-caryophyllene, -cedrene and α-humulene were the main substances detected. Hexadecanol was detected only in mature fruit being the compound with major area per cent in HD extract (29%). Spathulenol and E-sesquilavandulol were detected only in mature fruit and leaf. Homosalate, used in sunscreens ( Sarveya, Risk, & Benson, 2004) was obtained only by the HS-SPME technique. In order to diagnose and characterise the correlation among the stages of maturation of fruit and leaves oil, the resulting dendrogram, shown in Fig. 2, was useful for obtaining pre-selected profiles of high similarity.