Distribution of terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and benzylic compounds in the essential oils of Cinnamomum species

The essential oils of fourteen Cinnamomum species (C. verum J.S. Presl., C. pubescens Kochummen, C. javanicum B1., C. iners Reinw., C. impressicostatum Kosterm., C. mollissimum Hk. f., C. porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm., C. camphora (L.) J.S. Presl., C. sintoc B1., C. aureofulvum Gamb., C. microphyllum Ridl., C. scortechinii Gamb., C. subavenium Miq. and C. altissimum Kosterm .) were investigated by gas chromatography, GC/MS and retention indices. The essential oils were made up of one, two or all three of the following group of compounds: mono- and sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropanoids and benzylic compounds. Linalool, camphor and terpinen-4-ol were the major representatives of monoterpenoids. Essential oils rich in these mevalonic acid-derived constituents were those obtained from the leaves of C. pubescens, C. javanicum, C. subavenium, C. impressicostatum, C. camphora and C. porrectum and the bark and wood of C. camphora. The leaf oils of C. sintoc, C. aureofulvum, C. scortechinii and C. altissimum, the bark oils of C. javanicum, C. iners, C. altissimum, C. impressicostatum, C. scortechinii and C. porrectum and the wood oil of C. iners were made up mainly of sesquiterpenoids. The leaf oils of C.verum, C. porrectum, C. sintoc and C. aureofulvum, the bark oils of C. verum, C. impressicostatum, C. mollissimum, C. sintoc, C. camphora and C. pubescens, and the wood oils of C. verum, C. sintoc, C. pubescens, C. javanicum, C. impressicostatum, C. mollissimum and C. porrectum could be useful new sources for the phenylpropanoids, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and safrole. Benzyl benzoate was the most abundant benzylic compound and oils with high concentration of this ester were obtained from the leaves of C. iner, C. impressicostatum, C. mollissimum and C. microphyllum. The above compounds are commercially important chemicals in the flavour, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. The distribution and accumulation of the compounds in different parts of the plant among the different species may be used as a taxonomic marker for species characterization.