Chemical composition of the essential oils from the roots, fruits, leaves and stems of <i>Pimpinella cumbrae</i> Link growing in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Abstract

Abstract The oil constituents from the roots, fruits, leaves and stems of Pimpinella cumbrae Link gathered in the Canary Islands, Spain, have been studied by GC and GC–MS in combination with retention indices. The major constituents in the root oil were found to be isokessane (17%), β‐dihydroagarofuran (15%), 2‐methyl‐butyric acid (10%), geijerene (10%) and pregeijerene (7%). In the fruit oil the main components found were α‐bisabolol (39%), δ‐3‐carene (16%) and limonene (8%). In the leaf oil, α‐bisabolol (53%) and δ‐3‐carene (11%) were the predominant constituents. The most important compounds from the stem oil were α‐bisabolol (39%), isokessane (10%) and β‐dihydroagarofuran (9%). Pseudoisoeugenol esters were also detected in the oils from the roots, fruits and stems. These components were partially hydrolysed in the course of prolonged hydrodistillation to 2‐methyl‐5‐methoxybenzofuran. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.