Chemical composition of the leaf and fruit essential oils of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. (Syn. Murraya exotica Linn.)

Abstract

The essential oils from the leaves and fruits of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. grown in Nigeria were analysed by means of gas chromatograph and gas chromatograph interfaced with mass spectrometry. Both oils were rich in sesquiterpenoids. The principal constituents of the leaf oil were β-cyclocitral (22.9%), methyl salicylate (22.4%), trans-nerolidol (11.7%), α-cubebene (7.9%), (-)-cubenol (6.8%), β-cubebene (5.8%) and isogermacrene (5.7%). The most abundant constituent of the fruit essential oil was β-caryophyllene (43.4%). Other major components were (-)-zingiberene (18.9%), germacrene D (8.3%), α-copaene (5.5%) and α-humulene (5.1%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and quantitatively. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.