Long-chain polyprenols in gymnosperm plants.

Over 100 species of gymnosperm plants were checked for the presence of long chain polyprenols. Poly-cis long chain prenols, mainly as acetates, were found in green needles of about 60 species. In Cycadopsida either prenol-18 or prenol-20 were the main components of the natural polyprenol mixture. In Coniferopsida either a single polyprenol family was present like in all species of Pinaceae, or polyprenols consisted of two families differing in the size of polyprenol molecules: one family in which prenol-17 was the dominating component, and the other family of prenol-23. These complex mixtures of polyprenols were present in Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxodiaceae and also in Taxopsida. Seasonal variations were observed in the polyprenol content in green leaves.