Significance of long chain iso and anteiso monomethyl alkanes in the Lamiaceae (mint family)

The potential significance of the contributions of long chain iso and anteiso monomethyl alkanes (LC MMAs) from plants of the Lamiaceae, a family that includes many culinary and aromatic herbs of cultural value, to sediments and soil has been evaluated by analyzing 21 specimens from 16 species of Lamiaceae from different environmental settings in Hubei Province, central China, and comparing the results with those from tobacco plants, which are established to be rich in these compounds. Odd numbered iso-alkanes (i-C25 to i-C36) and even numbered anteiso-alkanes (a-C25 to a-C36) are abundant in the Lamiaceae (1.9–23.2% and 0.9–23.8% of total alkanes, respectively). The proportions of LC MMAs are relatively high and comparable to those in the tobacco plant. However, chain lengths in the Lamiaceae are longer than those in tobacco plants and compound-specific δ13C values are more negative than in the tobacco plants, potentially allowing distinction of their different origins. The results imply that Lamiaceae, in addition to some other land plants, can be important sources of LC iso- and anteiso-alkanes in sediments and soils.