Volatile constituents of essential oils isolated from different parts of cinnamon (<i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> Blume)

Abstract Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, syn C verum JS Presl, family Lauraceae) is an important spice and aromatic tree cultivated in Sri Lanka and India. On steam distillation, different parts of cinnamon yield volatile oils of varying composition. In the present investigation the profiles of essential oils isolated from tender twigs bearing reproductive parts, from pedicels of buds and flowers, from buds and flowers, from pedicels of fruits and from fruits were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The essential oil yields of the different plant parts were: tender twigs, 0.40%; pedicels of buds and flowers, 0.36%; buds and flowers, 0.04%; pedicels of fruits, 0.33%; fruits, 0.32%. The tender twig oil was richer in α‐phellandrene (3.4%), limonene (1.6%) and ( E )‐cinnamaldehyde (4.0%). The volatile oils from pedicels were richer in neryl acetate (1.4–2.0%), ( E )‐cinnamyl acetate (58.1–64.5%) and β‐caryophyllene (9.6–11.1%). Higher amounts of ( Z )‐cinnamyl acetate (6.1%), α‐humulene (2.2%), δ‐cadinene (2.2%), humulene epoxide I (5.0%), α‐muurolol (4.9%) and α‐cadinol (2.4%) were observed in the oil of buds and flowers. The fruit oil showed greater concentrations of α‐pinene (4.2%), β‐pinene (1.9%) and linalool (27.4%). However, all the oils contained linalool (3.6–27.4%), ( E )‐cinnamyl acetate (22.0–64.5%) and β‐caryophyllene (6.9–11.1%) as their major compounds. This is the first report on the oil profiles of pedicels and of buds and flowers of cinnamon. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry