Viscum album subsp. album, subsp. abietis and subsp. austriacum from Poland: Essential oil variability assessment and comparison with a literature survey

Mistletoes ( Viscum album ) are hemiparasitic epiphytes relevant for forest biodiversity. Nevertheless, recent evidence in trees decline and mortality in eastern and central Europe, shows also its negative impact on forest ecosystems. This study evaluated the chemical variability of essential oils (EOs) from leaves (L) and wooden parts (W) of Viscum album subsp. abietis (Va_abi), Viscum album subsp. album (Va_alb), and Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Va_aus), and compared Va_aus with its host, Pinus sylvestris , and Va_alb with its host, and Acer rubrum . The EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed for quantification and component identification. EO yields were < 0.05% (v/d.w), and 186 compounds identified in all V. album subspecies and hosts EOs. Despite qualitative similarity, their quantitative variation defined two main clusters. Va_abi and Va_aus leaves EOs were dominated by n -nonanal (7–15%), n -hexanal (1–14%), and trans -β-farnesene (1–13%), while woody parts EOs contained mainly 2- trans ,4- trans -decadienal (7–13%), and palmitic acid (9–11%). Va_alb leaves EOs were dominated by trans -β-farnesene (13–23%), α-pinene (traces-11%) and n -tricosane (2–11%). Comparison with literature suggests that further studies are needed to confirm these substances as dominant in V. album volatiles, independently of the subspecies, plant part, or host.