Chemical composition of the volatile oil from the fruits of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.

GC and GC-MS analyses were used to characterize volatile oil composition of fruits of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) grown in 2 regions of South India, i.e. (i) coastal Karnataka and (ii) south Kerala. Results are tabulated. In both oils the major peak area was identified as trans-cinnamyl acetate, followed by beta-caryophyllene, peak area being 42.4 and 13.7%, respectively, in (i), vs. 54.2 and 9.2% in (ii). Levels of several other constituents were significant in both samples, e.g. 3-phenylpropyl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol, T-cadinol, benzyl benzoate, alpha-copaene, alpha-humulene and trans-cinnamaldehyde. In (i) 34 components were identified, vs. 31 in (ii). Essential oil from the fruits was distinct from that isolated from other parts of the plant, e.g. leaf, root bark and stem bark.