Identification of the chemical compounds in Rhododendron ferrugineum: Extraction and chromatographic analysis

Pollination of Rhododendron ferrugineum decreases as the rhododendron population increases. This observation was made on the Beille Plateau (Eastern Pyrenees). Is this due to a single molecule or a combination of molecules which, once a certain threshold is exceeded, causes pollinators to flee? The aim of this study is to identify the molecules present in this plant; to this end, Soxhlet extraction using solvents (dichloromethane, methanol) was employed. The chemical molecules contained in various parts of the plant, such as the petals, the whole flower and the pistil, were thus extracted. Honey from Rhododendron ferrugineum was also analysed. Chromatography (GC-MS) and (CCM) analyses were carried out to identify the molecules present in the rhododendron.