The Essential Oil ofCinnamomum camphora(L.) Nees and Eberm.—Variation in Oil Composition Throughout the Tree in Two Chemotypes from Eastern Australia

Abstract

The camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Nees et Eberm., is a major environmental weed in parts of eastern Australia, particularly in northeastern New South Wales. It occurs in this region in two chemotypic forms, discriminated on the basis of leaf oil: camphor and 1,8-cineole. Oil was extracted from various parts of trees of each of these chemotypes: leaf, fruit, branch, trunk and root. Analysis of the oil revealed that, for the camphor-type, camphor content was greater in leaves than in other tree parts, where cineole and safrole were also present in substantial proportions; and, for the cineole-type, 1,8-cineole, which with lesser quantities of sabinene and citronellol dominated the leaf oil, is reduced in significance in the trunk where camphor is also an important constituent.

Cinnamomum citriodorumThw. – new source of citronellol

“…(+) Citronellol dominates in oils from Boronia citriodora (80%) and Eucalyptus citriodora (15-20%); (À) citronellol is the predominant isomer (50%) in geranium and rose oils (11). It is reported as a minor constituent from Cinnamomum camphora leaf oil of Australian origin (5). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a Cinnamomum species rich in citronellol.…”

“…Many of the species of Cinnamomum have medicinal and spice value, C. verum being the most important. Due to its economic importance and medicinal values, the genus has attracted the attention of phytochemists, and several terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids and aliphatic compounds have been isolated (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Even though several species have been subjected to phytochemical studies, there are some endemic species that are not explored for their chemical constituents.…”

Cinnamomum cebuense Kosterm Lauraceae

“…Eugenol is also a potent inhibitor of tumor growth (Jaganathan et al 2010). Safrole, another phytochemical present in essential oils of Cinnamomum species, is also present in C. cebuense (Bacon 1909;Concha and Cruz 1966;Jantan and Goh 1990;Stubbs et al 2004;Jantan et al 2004;Lv et al 2010;Ali et al 2010). Undesirably, safrole was found to have a hepatocarcinogenic effect (Liu et al 1999), which could significantly increase hepatocellular carcinomas (Wislocki et al 1977).…”

Review on safrole: identity shift of the ‘candy shop’ aroma to a carcinogen and deforester

“…Several plant species from the Lauraceae family within the genera Sassafras , Cinnamomum , and Ocotea are known to be very rich sources of safrole, as the major constituents of their essential oils. The major commercial plant sources of safrole belong to the Lauraceae family, including Sassafras , brown camphor, and a few species of Cinnamomum . Sassafras albidum , native to eastern USA, is a well known commercial source of safrole.…”

“…The major commercial plant sources of safrole belong to the Lauraceae family, including Sassafras, brown camphor, and a few species of Cinnamomum. 42,43 Sassafras albidum, native to eastern USA, is a well known commercial source of safrole. It contains about 85% of safrole as the major constituent of the essential oil, which is primarily extracted from its root bark.…”