Investigation of the Essential Oil of Feminine Cones, Leaves and Branches of Taxodium distichum from Italy

Abstract

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from feminine cones, leaves and branches of adult Taxodium distichum trees have been studied by GC and GC/MS. Qualitative and quantitative differences have been detected among the three oils studied, in particular the essential oil of the feminine cones contained mainly monoterpene hydrocarbons with limonene (18.7%) and α-pinene (71.3%) being predominant. The leaf and branch oils were also rich in α-pinene (79.7% and 53.7%) in addition to more oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.

Key Word Index:

• Taxodium distichum
• Taxodiaceae
• bald cypress
• essential oil composition
• α-pinene
• limonene