Comparative analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the essential oils from bark and leaves of Cedrelopsis grevei Baill, an aromatic and medicinal plant from Madagascar

The essential oils from bark and leaves of Cedrelopsis grevei Baill (Ptaeroxylaceae), an aromatic and medicinal plant from Madagascar, are widely used in folk medicine. These two commercially available oils have been examined separately by means of GC-MS. The oil constituents were identified according to their mass spectra and their relative retention indices determined on both polar and non-polar stationary phase capillary columns. A total of 55 compounds have been identified constituting 76.7% (bark) and 91.6% (leaves) of the volatile constituents. Both oils were found to have a similar composition; however the relative percentages of some compounds notably differed. The bark essential oil contained beta-pinene (17.1%), cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (12.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.0%) as the main components whereas the leaf essential oil was largely dominated by trans-beta-farnesene (35.6%); beta-pinene (12.8%), cis-sesquisabinene hydrate (9.8%) and ar-curcumene (8.6%) were also present as major components. As far as we know, this is the first report on the Cedrelopsis grevei bark and leaf essential oils which therapeutic properties may be attractive for aromatherapy. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.