Analysis of leaf essential oils from the indigenous ve conifers of Taiwan

Abstract

Abstract The chemical composition of leaf essential oils of ve conifers in Taiwan were examined. In Chamaecyparis formosensis leaf oil 60 compounds were identied, with α ‐pinene (71.6%), δ ‐2‐carene (4.6%), β ‐myrcene (4.1%), γ ‐muurolene (3.1%), β ‐pinene (2.7%) and α ‐caryophyllene (2.0%) predominating. Forty‐four compounds were identied in the leaf oil of C. obtusa var. formosana with α ‐pinene (76.7%), β ‐myrcene (5.7%), β ‐pinene (3.2%), γ ‐muurolene (2.8%), δ ‐2‐carene (2.1%) and β ‐phellandrene (2.1%) the major components. In leaf oil of Calocedrus formosana , we identied 81 compounds, with α ‐pinene (69.8%), β ‐caryophyllene (4.7%), β ‐myrcene (4.3%) and limonene (2.0%) predominating. For the leaf oil of Taiwania cryptomerioides , 56 compounds were found, with limonene (44.5%), α ‐pinene (14.4%), caryophyllene oxide (8.5%), δ ‐2‐carene (3.9%), α ‐terpineol acetate (3.6%) and β ‐myrcene (2.6%) the main components. In leaf oil of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii , there were 68 identied compounds, with α ‐pinene (36.4%), α ‐thujene (11.4%), α ‐eudesmol (8.1%), elemol (5.8%), β ‐elemene (3.5%), γ ‐eudesmol (2.8%) and γ ‐himachalene (2.7%) the major constituents. All ve species had monoterpene hydrocarbons as their main components. Except for Taiwania , in which limonene predominated, in all other species α ‐pinene was the predominant component. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.