Volatile constituents from the infected wood of aquilaria malaccensis Benth

Upon hydrodistillation of Malaysian ‘gaharu’ (agarwood), an essential oil is obtained in 0.8% yield. The odour of the oil can be described as warm, diffusive, strongly woody and characteristic. It was found to contain at least 61% sesquiterpene alcohols, with 10-epi γ - eudesmol (23%) and valeria...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Karim B. Yaacob, Daniel Joulain
Format: Article
Published: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2000
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3793/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3793/
Description
Summary:Upon hydrodistillation of Malaysian ‘gaharu’ (agarwood), an essential oil is obtained in 0.8% yield. The odour of the oil can be described as warm, diffusive, strongly woody and characteristic. It was found to contain at least 61% sesquiterpene alcohols, with 10-epi γ - eudesmol (23%) and valerianol (12.3%) predominating. The remaining part of the oils is made of sesquiterpene oxides (α - agarofurane : 7.5% major) and a number of non terpenic aromatic compounds (benzylacetone: major). These findings and other considerations conform the identity of the starting material is Aquilaria malaccensis Benth.