The Leaf Oils of the Melaleuca minutifolia F.Muell. group (Myrtaceae).

Brophy, Joseph J.; Goldsack, Robert J.; Craven, Lyn A.; Ford, Andrew J.; Godfree, Robert

The leaf oils of the four species which comprise the Melaleuca minutifolia group have been examined by GC and GC/MS. The leaf oils of M. minutifolia contained a mixture of both mono- and sesquiterpenes, with α-pinene (16-20%) bring the principal monoterpene. The main sesquiterpenes present in the oil were aromadendrene (3-11%), bicyclogermacrene (5-10%) and α-, α- and β-eudesmol (7-11%, 5-7% and 8-12% respectively). Melaleuca monantha produced an oil which was much richer in α-pinene, 20-54% from one site and 66% from a second site accompanied by lesser, though still significant amounts of β-pinene (14-30% from one site and 2-9% from the second site). Melaleuca sylvana produced an oil in which α-pinene (26-62%) was the principal component. The main sesquiterpenes were β-caryophyllene (5-13%), bicyclogermacrene (3-11%). The leaf oil M. uxorum contained α-pinene (5-17%), bicyclogermacrene (6-13%), globulol (8-14%), spathulenol (6-14%) and viridiflorol (3-10%) as the main components. PCA analysis supports the taxonomic distinctness of the four species.

ESSENTIAL oils; AROMATIC plants; PLANT products; MELALEUCA; MYRTACEAE; SESQUITERPENES; TERPENES

Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2008, Vol 20, Issue 2, p163

1041-2905

Academic Journal

10.1080/10412905.2008.9699981