Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Five Cultivated Eucalyptus Species in Iran: E. intertexta, E. platypus, E. leucoxylon, E. sargentii and E. camaldulensis

Abstract

The leaves of five cultivated Eucalyptus species named, Eucalyptus intertexta var. intertexta R.T. Baker, Eucalyptus platypus var. heterophylla Blakely, Eucalyptus leucoxylon var. rostellata Miq., Eucalyptus sargentii subsp. Sargantii Maiden and Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtuse Blakely were collected in the spring from Kashan in Isfahan province (central regions of Iran). After drying the plant materials in shade, their essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. The oils were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Ten components were identified in the oil of Eucalyptus intertexta with 1,8-cineole (80.6%) as main constituent. Eighteen compounds were identified in the oil of Eucalyptus platypus with 1,8-cineole (41.5%) and α-pinene (26.0%) as main components. Seven compounds were characterized in the oil of Eucalyptus leucoxylon with 1,8-cineole (85.5%) as main constituent. Seventeen compounds were characterized in the oil of Eucalyptus sargentii with 1,8-cineole (75.5%) α-pinene (8.3%) and β-eudesmol (4.1%) as main constituents. Twenty-four components were identified in the oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis with 1,8-cineole (26.1%), p-cymene (14.4%), spathulenol (13.2%), α-pinene (12.6%) and β-phellandrene (9.2%) as main constituents. The results showed, although the 1,8-cineole was the main component of the essential oils of all Eucalyptus species, but its relative content was higher in the oil of Eucalyptus intertexta and Eucalyptus leucoxylon.