Secondary Metabolites from Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo Growing in the Majella National Park (Central Apennines, Italy) by Alessandro Venditti* a ), Anna Maria Serrilli a ), Sauro Vittori b ), Fabrizio Papa b ), Filippo Maggi b ), Mirella Di Cecco c ), Gianpiero Ciaschetti c ), Maurizio Bruno d ), Sergio Rosselli d ), and Amandodoriano Bianco a ) a ) Universita ` di Roma La Sapienza, Dipartimento di Chimica Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, IT-00185 Roma b )School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via SantAgostino 1, IT-62032 Camerino c ) Parco Nazionale della Majella, Via Occidentale 6, IT-66016 Guardiagrele d ) Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies – Section Chemistry – University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Parco dOrleans II, ed. 16, IT-90128 Palermo In this study, we examined the composition regarding secondary metabolites of P. mugo Turra ssp. mugo growing in the protected area of Majella National Park, which is the southernmost station of the habitat of this species. Both the nonpolar and polar fractions were considered. In particular, the essential- oil composition showed a high variety of compounds, and 109 compounds were detected, and 101 were identified, among which abietane-type compounds have a taxonomic relevance. Abietanes were also isolated from the polar fraction, together with an acylated flavonol and a remarkably high amount of shikimic acid. Introduction. – Pinus mugo Turra ssp. mugo (Pinaceae) is a shrub with thick, decumbent, ascending or erect branches up to 3– 5 m. Twigs are green at first, becoming successively brown; bark is grey-brownish; buds are ovoid-cylindrical, very resinous; leaves are 3 – 8 cm  1.5 – 2 mm, in pairs, bright green; cones are 2 – 5  1.5 – 2.5 cm, shining, subsessile, symmetrical, and obtuse [1]. The mountains of central Europe and the Balkan peninsula at 1800– 2300 m a.s.l. are the typical area of this species, which prefers calcareous and dolomite substrata. Its habitat is defined by the shrubs of the Sub-Alpes (sites called mughete), over the arboreal vegetation, where it represents a residual of the historically more extended nordic moors. P. mugo is a species protected by a regional law (L. R. 45/79, Regione Abruzzo) , and Majella is the largest area of this species in Apennines mountains. There are some traditional uses of the essential oil of P. mugo in the treatment of rheumatic and pulmonary diseases, due to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, expectorant, and fluidizing properties. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory activities are extended also to the urinary tract favored by the diuretic action. A syrup called mugolio, obtained from buds extracted with sugar or honey, was utilized for its balsamic properties, in case of cold, or in the manufacture of a home-made alcoholic drink. Results and Discussion. – 1. Composition of the Polar Fraction. The study of the polar fraction of P. mugo from Majella mountains led to the isolation of two diterpenes, CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY – Vol. 10 (2013) 2091  2013 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich