Aromatic Plants of Tropical Central Africa. XVI. Studies on Essential Oils of Five Eucalyptus Species Grown in Burundi

ABSTRACT

The essential oils isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn., E. grandis W. Hill ex Maiden., E. citriodora Hook., E. globulus Labill. and E. maidenii F. Muell. by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Based on their yield and composition, the oils of E. camaldulensis and E. grandis are considered as unacceptable for commercial essential oil production, while E. citriodora could be an interesting source of citronellol. The oils of E. maidenii and E. globulus are potential sources of 1,8-cineole but they need redistillation to boost their 1,8-cineole contents.

KEY WORD INDEX:

• Eucalyptus camaldulensis
• Eucalyptus grandis
• Eucalyptus citriodora
• Eucalyptus globulus
• Eucalyptus maidenii
• essential oil yield
• essential oil composition
• citronellal
• citronellol
• 1,8-cineole