Composition and Bioactivities of the Leaf Essential Oils of Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. from Taiwan

Abstract

Leaves of Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. were collected from two sites in Taiwan. Leaf essential oils of C. sub-avenium were isolated using hydrodistillation and headspace-GC methods to determine their composition and yield. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various oils obtained were also evaluated. Forty-four and 88 compounds were identified in the leaf oils obtained. Whereas 26 and 65 compounds were identified by headspace-GC method, respectively. The main headspace components were comparable to those of the oil. The main components of one of the oils were methyl eugenol (75.9%), linalool (7.3%), and eugenol (6.6%); while those from the other oil were p-cymene (21.6%), 1,8-cineole (16.5%), and linalool (11.9%). Both leaf oils had excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.