Volatiles from Leaves and Rhizomes of Fragrant Acorus spp. (Acoraceae)

Abstract

Three horticultural selections of Acorus gramineus Soland were investigated to determine the chemical composition of their leaves and rhizomes. The variety 'liquorice' was found to contain methylchavicol (49%) which accounts for the unusual anisic odor of this variety, while beta-asarone was the main component of A. christophii (43%) and 'yodo-no-yuki' (20%). The results are compared with calamus oils, and the possible biosynthetic precursors of the main components methylchavicol and beta-asarone are considered.

The phenylpropene synthase pathway and its applications in the engineering of volatile phenylpropanoids in plants

“…Previous studies have shown that a number of varieties of Acorus species contain (Z)-propenyl phenylpropenes, including β-asarone, but no enzyme responsible for the formation of these (Z)-propenyl phenylpropenes has thus far been found (Du et al 2008). According to the reaction mechanism of EGS and IGS based on the quinone methide intermediate, advance rotation at the single bond between C7 and C8 in the propyl side chain of the quinone methide intermediate before hydride attack at C9, could presumably lead to the formation of (Z)-isoeugenol ( Figure 1B).…”

Anticonvulsant Activity of Acute and Chronic Treatment with a-Asarone from <i>Acorus gramineus</i> in Seizure Models

“…The rhizomes and leaves of Acorus gramineus are known to contain 0.11-0.42% of essential oil consisting of 30 kinds of compounds which may affect the central nervous system (CNS) after direct inhalation of its fragrance. 11,12) To date, only a few papers have reported on the sedative or activating properties of some essential oils and their constituents in animals under standardized experimental procedures. [13][14][15][16] However, the major components possessing the anticonvulsant effects are still poorly understood.…”

The Dual Antimelanogenic and Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oil Extracted from the Leaves ofAcorus macrospadiceus(Yamamoto) F. N. Wei et Y. K. Li

“…found that methylchavicol (49%) is the major constituent of volatiles from the leaves (48.8%) and rhizomes (41.4%) of Acorus gramineus var. “liquorice” [26]. In the present study, methylchavicol (54.01%) is the major constituent of A. macrospadiceus essential oil and imparts the characteristic anisic odor of this plant.…”

“…In the present study, methylchavicol (54.01%) is the major constituent of A. macrospadiceus essential oil and imparts the characteristic anisic odor of this plant. However, the other chemical components in this essential oil were different from those of the other Acorus species [26]. Nootkatone (15.92%) is the major ketone in this essential oil.…”