The Essential Oil of Cynanchum paniculatum (Bge.) Kitag (Asclepiadaceae)

Abstract

Cynanchum paniculatum (Bge.) Kitag (Asclepiadaceae) is a medicinal plant from China. The essential oil of the leaves and roots was isolated and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Eight and nine compounds were identified in the oil from leaves and roots, respectively. The predominant component found in both oils was paeonol (78.2% and 86.3%). The most striking difference among the oil samples was the presence of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone in the leaf oil. The leaf oil yield was 0.5% (w/w) and the root oil yield was 1.1% (w/w).

Key Word Index:

• Cynanchum paniculatum
• Asclepiadaceae
• essential oil composition
• paeonol