Chemical profile of Ramonda serbica populations from Albania

Abstract

Ramonda serbica (Gesneriaceae) is a rare and relict resurrection plant endemic to the Balkan Peninsula and represents one of the few European members of the Gesneriaceae family. This species is widely recognized for its exceptional desiccation tolerance, being able to survive prolonged periods of complete dehydration and to fully recover upon rehydration. Owing to these unique physiological traits, species of the genus Ramonda have been extensively investigated from biological, genetic, and biochemical perspectives, particularly with regard to stress tolerance mechanisms, dehydration–rehydration dynamics, genome size, ploidy-level variation, and genetic polymorphism. In contrast, information concerning the chemical composition of R. serbica, especially its essential-oil profile, remains scarce.

The aim of the present study was to characterize, for the first time, the chemical profile of the essential oil obtained from leaves of R. serbica populations growing in Central Albania. Leaf samples were collected in July 2025 from two representative sites, Petrelë and Krujë. After air-drying, the plant material was subjected to hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The resulting essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for qualitative identification and by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) for quantitative evaluation.

Chromatographic analysis revealed a complex chemical profile dominated by oxygenated compounds, particularly oxygenated sesquiterpenes and alcohols, while non-oxygenated hydrocarbons were present only in minor amounts. The prevalence of high-molecular-weight, oxygen-containing metabolites clearly differentiates the chemical signature of R. serbica from essential-oil profiles typically dominated by hydrocarbon terpenes. Moreover, the overall similarity in the main constituents between samples from different locations indicates a relatively stable chemical pattern within Central Albania, despite local environmental differences.

These findings provide the first reference data on the essential-oil composition of R. serbica in Albania and establish a valuable baseline for future phytochemical, ecological, and bioactivity-oriented studies on this unique Balkan endemic species.