The Leaf Oils of the Melaleuca minutifolia F.Muell. group (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

The leaf oils of the four species which comprise the Melaleuca minutifolia group have been examined by GC and GC/MS. The leaf oils of M. minutifolia contained a mixture of both mono- and sesquiterpenes, with α-pinene (16–20%) bring the principal monoterpene. The main sesquiterpenes present in the oil were aromadendrene (3–11%), bicyclogermacrene (5–10%) and γ-, α- and β-eudesmol (7–11%, 5–7% and 8–12% respectively). Melaleuca monantha produced an oil which was much richer in α-pinene, 20–54% from one site and 66% from a second site accompanied by lesser, though still significant amounts of β-pinene (14–30% from one site and 2–9% from the second site). Melaleuca sylvana produced an oil in which α-pinene (26–62%) was the principal component. The main sesquiterpenes were β-caryophyllene (5–13%), bicyclogermacrene (3–11%). The leaf oil M. uxorum contained α-pinene (5–17%), bicyclogermacrene (6–13%), globulol (8–14%), spathulenol (6–14%) and viridiflorol (3–10%) as the main components. PCA analysis supports the taxonomic distinctness of the four species.

Key Word Index:

• Melaleuca minutifolia
• Melaleuca monantha
• Melaleuca sylvana
• Melaleuca uxorum
• Myrtaceae
• essential oil composition
• α-pinene
• β-pinene
• aromadendrene
• γ-eudesmol
• α-eudesmol
• β-eudesmol
• bicyclogermacrene
• spathulenol
• PCA analysis