Constituents of the Rhizome and Seed Oils of Greater Galangal Alpinia galangal (L.) Willd. from Malaysia

Abstract

The galangal oils distilled from the rhizomes and seeds of Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. from Malaysia were examined by capillary GC and GC/MS. The rhizome oil was rich in 1,8-cineole (40.5%). Other compounds that were found in appreciable amounts in the oil were the sesquiterpenoids, β-bisabolene (8.4%), (Z,E)-farnesol (3.8%), β-caryophyllene (3.6%) and (E)- β-farnesene (3.2%). The seed oil was characterized by its richness in sesquiterpenoids with the major ones being β-bisabolene (37.6%), (E)- β-farnesene (22.7%), (E,E)-farnesyl acetate (7.9%), (Z,E)-farnesol (3.9%) and β-caryophyllene (3.0%).

Key Word Index:

• Alpinia galanga
• Zingiberaceae
• essential oil composition
• 1,8-cineole
• β-bisabolene
• (E)-β-farnesene