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This is first report on the composition of the leaf essential oils of J. communis L. varieties from the Western Hemisphere. The oil of Juniperus communis var. jackii had the most distinct oil and contained moderate amounts of α-pinene (16.1-18.9%), δ-3-carene (17.9-28.4%) and β-phellandrene (9.2-13.4%) along with several diterpenes including isoabienol. Juniperus communis var. charlottensis oil had a very high concentration of α-pinene (59.3%), with moderate amounts of β-pinene (5.9%), δ-3-carene (3.6%) and β-phellandrene (2.9%). The oil of J. communis var. depressa was dominated by a-pinene (53.9%), δ-3-carene (9.3%) and β-pinene (5.5%) and was a little unusual in also containing citronellol, citronellyl acetate, neryl acetate and geranyl acetate with no diterpenes. The oil of J. communis var. megistocarpa possessed large amounts of α-pinene (58.5%), limonene (20.4%) and β-pinene (5.0%) and, like J. communis var. depressa, its oil also contained citronellol, citronellyl acetate, neryl acetate and geranyl acetate. Putative J. communis var. saxatilis from Idaho, USA, had a high concentration of α-pinene (56.5%) with moderate amounts of δ-3-carene (11.5%), β-pinene (5.4%), myrcene (4.5%) and β-phellandrene (3.1%). The oils of these North American varieties were compared to J. communis var. communis (Sweden) and J. communis var. saxatilis (Switzerland). A survey of approximately 65 species of Juniperus revealed that isoabienol was present in eight species. X-ray, MS and 13C-NMR were used to determine the structure of isoabienol (I) and KI and a mass spectrum is presented to aid future identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Re-examination of the leaf essential oils of the one-seeded, serrate leaf junipers of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, by GC, GC/MS and NMR, has yielded 2-ethenyl-3-methyl phenol (coahuilensol), 2-ethenyl-3-methyl anisole (coahuilensol, methyl ether), and 2-(1'-acetoxyethyl)-3-methyl anisole (pinchotene acetate) as new natural products. A survey of Juniperus oils revealed that these compounds were found in: three serrate leaf junipers (J. angosturana, two varieties of J. coahuilensis, and J. pinchotii). Coahuilensol was also found in the oils of two smooth leaf junipers of the western hemisphere (J. virginiana var. virginiana and J. v. var. silicicola); three multiple seeded, smooth leaf junipers of the eastern hemisphere (J. semiglobosa, J. semiglobosa var. talassica, and J. thurifera). The phenolic compounds were not found in section Juniperus, section Caryocedrus or in the one seeded, smooth leaf junipers of the eastern hemisphere. Coahuilensol has been previously reported as 2-(2-propenyl)-phenol (tentative). The leaf oils of J. angosturana J. coahuilensis, J. coahuilensis var. coahuilensis, J. monosperma and J. pinchotii were re-examined based on fresh oil collections and the compositions are reported. NMR data and mass spectra of the three 3-methyl phenols are presented to aid in future identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new conifer genus was recently discovered in northern Vietnam and named Xanthocyparis with two species: X. vietnamensis in Vietnam and X. nootkatensis (= Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) in western North America. This is the first analysis of the leaf essential oil of X. vietnamensis. The oil of X. vietnamensis is dominated by sesquiterpenes and diterpenes. The major components are hedycaryol (1.4-34.4%), phyllocladene (0.9-37.8%), sandaracopimara-8 (14),15-diene (0.7-8.9%), germacrene D (3.7-7.9%), and α-pinene (0.8-14.9%). The oil of Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) is dominated by monoterpenes. The major constituents of X. nootkatensis are limonene (35.4-42.4%), δ-3-carene (11.5-23.4%), α-pinene (8.7-16.3%) and nezukol (3.3-4.8%). The oils differ in many components but share many of the unusual diterpenes. This seems to indicate a rather distant relationship and a long period of divergence. The oil samples of X. vietnamensis were extremely variable (e.g. hedycaryol 1.4-34.4%; phyllocladene 0.9-37.8%) suggesting chemical races or botanical varieties may be present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farjon (1) considers the genus Calocedrus as containing just three species, C. decurrens (w. N. America), C. macrolepis (S.W. China, N. Vietnam, N. Thailand) and C. formosana (Taiwan). The leaf oils were analyzed and compared to the oil of the closely related species, Platycladus orientalis (E., N.E. China, Korea, far eastern Russia). The oils of C. macrolepis and C. formosana were very similar, being high in α-pinene (57.2% and 67.1%, respectively) and myrcene (11.2% and 6.2%), but they differed in several smaller components. The oils of C. decurrens from two populations in Oregon and one disjunct population in southern California were high in δ-3-carene (15.2-20.2%), limonene (18.2-23.6%), α-pinene (8.7-15.8%), terpinolene (5.7-8.0%), α-fenchyl acetate (3.5-9.7%), with some cedrol (0.8-1.2%). No large differences in oil compositions were seen between the three C. decurrens populations. Platycladus orientalis (= Thuja orientalis, = Biota orientalis) was found to contain considerable amounts of δ-3-carene (29.8%), cedrol (22.2%), α-pinene (15.1%) and terpinolene (4.9%). Overall, the oil of C. decurrens is as different from C. macrolepis and C. formosana as it is from P. orientalis, suggesting considerable divergence between Calocedrus species, but not between C. macrolepis and C. formosana. These leaf oil analyses support the recognition of C. macrolepis var. formosana in Taiwan as treated in the Flora of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of the leaf oils from seven populations of J. sabina L., one population of Juniperus sabina var. arenaria (E. H. Wilson) Farjon were examined for their geographic variation. In addition, the leaf oils of J. chinensis L. and J. davurica Pall. were compared to J. sabina. Juniperus sabina var. arenaria, the sand loving juniper, oil was found to be very similar to that of J. davurica, Mongolia, and J. sabina, on sand dunes in Mongolia. This suggests that J. sabina var. arenaria might be conspecific with J. davurica. Farjon's move (2001) of J. sabina var. arenaria out of J. chinensis is supported. Considerable differentiation was found in populations of J. sabina from the Iberian peninsula. Cedrol, citronellol, safrole, trans-sabinyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol and β-thujone were found to be polymorphic in several populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty one accessions of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, sterile, oil type) and Khus (V. zizanioides, fertile, non-oil type) were analyzed by the use of random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Nineteen of the accessions clustered strongly around the cultigen, Sunshine. Three accessions, Khus, Northern India, Kassel, Germany, and Guang Dong, China clustered loosely and were not closely related to the sterile oil producing vetivers. Thirteen of the vetiver accessions were grown in test plots in Florida, USA, Nepal and Portugal. The largest growth was recorded in Nepal, followed closely by Florida and by the cooler, Mediterranean site in Portugal. No single genotype (DNA cultivar) grew best in every plot. Oil yields (% oil/dry wt.) were highest in Nepal and Portugal. Oil yields ranged from 0.29% to 9.61%. Essential oil production (g/plant) was highest in Nepal and Florida and ranged from 0.02 to 4.17 (g/plant). Analyses of variation among the major compounds is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil of the rhizomes of Mongolian Rhodiola rosea L. was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-six constituents were identified in the oil. The main components in the oil were geraniol (32.3%), myrtenol (15.7%), octanol (13.7%), trans-pinocarveol (11.6%), trans-myrtanol (3.2%), isopinocamphone (2.8%) and piperitone (1.2%). Comparisons are made with Rhodiola rosea rhizome oil from Finland and Norway and oils from other Rhodiola species (R. crenulata, Tibet; R. fastigiata, Tibet; R. yunnanesis, China). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile components from fresh and air-dried leaves of Juniperus thurifera var. africana, J. phoenicea and J. oxycedrus (Cupressaceae) were isolated by direct water distillation (Clevenger-type apparatus) and analyzed using GC (FID) and GC/MS. The essential oils from leaves of J. thurifera var. africana were characterized by a high sabinene content (16.5-21.8%), γ-terpinene (9.3-11.5%), and α-pinene (7.6-9.1%). The major components for J. phoenicea were α-pinene (38.2-58%) and δ-3-carene (7.6%), while 13-epi-manoyl oxide (12.5-13.2%), (Z)-6-pentadecen-2-one (11.5-12.2%), and α-pinene (8.5-17.1%) were the major components found in the leaf oils of J. oxycedrus. The fresh leaves of J. thurifera var. africana contained 1.46% oil, while the yield was 1.14% from the dried leaves. The oil yields from the dried leaves of J. phoenicea and J. oxycedrus were 0.94% and 0.01%, respectively. Air-drying moderately effected the qualitative and quantitative composition of the oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera var. africana from three provenances (Forêt Islane, Ait Lkak and Plateau of Matat) in the Tensift-Al Haouz, Marrakech region, were analyzed by combined capillary gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. The oil yields from fresh leaves showed on differences among geographical sources. Air dried leaves appeared to yield more oil at the highest elevation (1.03%, Ait Lkak, 2900 m) than lower sites (0.67%, Plateau of Matat, 2200 m; 0.57%, Forêt Islane, 2000 m). The essential oils from each geographic site had very similar composition in fresh versus air dried leaves. The essential oils from provenance Ait Lkak and Plateau of Matat were very similar and characterized by a high sabinene content (21.2, 35.9%), in contrast to 10.% sabinene from the provenance Forêt Islane. The oil from Foret Islane had a high d-cadinene content with 12.7%, whereas Aik Akak and Plateau of Matat contained only 0.6 and 0.8%. The Moroccan oils (J. thurifera var. africana) were compared to European J. thurifera var. thurifera (Spain) oil. Moroccan oils were found to be higher sabinene and limonene than the European oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]