Analysis of the leaf Oil of Syzygium malaccense Merr. et Perry from Nigeria

Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR, Jul/Aug 2007 by Karioti, A, Skaltsa, H, Gbolade, A A

The monoterpene hydrocarbons in our oil were characterized as (-t-)-α-pinene (7.3%), (0 -)-β-pinene(8.0%), andp-cymene (13.5%) (Table I). Moderate amounts of limonene (3.1%) and ã-terpinene (5.0%) were also detected, while other components occurred in trace amounts (

(-)-Caryophyllene oxide (2.5%) and cc-cadinol (3%) characterized the oxygenated sesquiterpenes. This oil showed some slight similarities to sesquiterpene hydrocarbons of related Eugenia species (11,12). Related E. stigmatosa of Brazilian origin was reported to be simple in composition (13) yielding mainly a non-terpenoid olefinic fatty acid, (Z)-tetradec-S-enoic acid ( > 90%). Eugenia hyemalis leaf oil obtained from the same source was also different in compositon, being a rich source of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons especially bicyclogermacrene (37.7%), germacrene D (7.0%) and ß-caryophyllene (7.4%), when compared with the Nigerian apple leaf où. Henriques et al (14) investigated the oils of other Brazilian Eugenia species.

Our investigation has revealed that the leaf oil of S. malaccense from Nigeria was found to be a rich source of monoterpenes, as distinct from similar oils occurring elsewhere, which may account foritsflavoringproperties. Anew chemotype characterized by p-cymene/ a-terpineol /(-)-caryophyllene oxide is hereby described for the leaf oil of Nigerian S. malaccense.

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