Functional Connection Between Intracellular and Extracellular Secretion in Species of Euphorbia Genus

In species of the Euphorbia genus the intracellular latex-secretion and the extracellular nectar-secretion are anatomically connected. The functional connection of the secretional systems was proved to be probable by TLC and GC-MSD. The chemical composition of Euphorbia latex and honey was examined with these analytical methods. In our research, the comparative chemical analysis of the latex and the honey of two Euphorbia species (Euphorbia cyparissias L., Euphorbia seguieriana Necker.) was discharged. These species are unusually good melliferous plants in Hungary. Four chemical components that can be found both in the latex and in the honey were detected with ultraviolet light (254 nm), and three general alkaloid reagents (Dragendorff, Meyer and 1% Ce(SO4)2 in 2n H2SO4) were detected by TLC. By means of mass spectrum generated by GC-MSD, the following compounds of Euphorbia honey were identified: butyl-2-methylpropyl phtalat, hexadecane acid, diheptyl phtalat, bis (2-ethyl-hexyl) phtalat, benzenedicarboxylic acid decyl-hexyl ester, benzenedicarboxylic acid isodecyl-octyl ester. The first compounds can also be found in the latex of both examined Euphorbia species. This partial correspondence in the composition of the latex and the honey led to results that suggest a further, functional connection between the two, anatomically connected secretional systems.