Extensive Study on the Minor Constituents of the Essential Oil of Eucalyptus dives Schau. Type

Abstract

An oil of the piperitone type of Eucalyptus dives produced from trees cultivated in South Africa was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Seventy-three constituents were characterized with piperitone ranging from 29.2% to 64.9%, depending on whether the oil was produced from dried or fresh leaves. Two novel constituents such as p-menth-5-en-2-one and p-menth-6-en-3-one were characterized as minor constituents of the oil; the former being found in nature for the first time.

Key Word Index:

• Eucalyptus dives Myrtaceae
• essential oil composition
• piperitone
• p-menth-5-en-2-one
• p-menth-6-en-3-one