The genus Cinnamomum

Table 8.1 Physico-chemical characteristics of leaf oil
Characteristics Mandi District Palampur Local
Indian Cassia 205
Colour Light yellow Light yellow Light yellow
Specific gravity 0.9349 (30 °C) 0.9252 (20 °C) 0.9481 (20 °C)
Refractive index 1.4090 (30 °C) 1.4902 (20 °C) 1.5120 (20 °C)
Optical rotation 1.30 2.26 2.12
Acid value 4.3 3.9 4.9
Ester value 45–49 36–38 –
Ester value after acetylation 152.7 160.0 143.2
Cinnamic aldehyde (%) 38.43 29.23 60.35
Phenol content 4.5–5.2 3–4.5 1–1.5
cinnamaldehyde as its major component. The oil has roughly the following characteristics:
Sp. gravity 1.025; [] D 16°37; nd 20° 1.526; soluble in 1.2 vol. of 70%
alcohol. Bradu and Sobti (1988) analysed the leaf oils from three distinct sources. The
properties of the oil samples are given in Table 8.1.
The chemical composition also exhibits variations. Bradu and Sobti (1988)
analysed the chemical composition of oil from different sources (Table 8.2). In these
Table 8.2 Chemical composition % of C. tamala leaf oil samples
Sl. no. Compound I II III IV
(Mandi District) (Kangra District) (Telikot Kumaon) (Market sample)
1. -Pinene 0.87 0.63 0.30 0.26
2. -Pinene 0.41 0.46 0.22 0.05
3. Benzaldehyde 1.071 3.88 – –
4. Unidentified 5.24 5.04 0.52 0.09
5. Unidentified 0.42 2.25 0.46 –
6. Linalool 28.26 22.75 15.67 15.28
7. Benzylacetate 0.65 1.01 0.68 0.77
8. Linalool acetate 3.40 5.15 – –
9. -Terpineol 1.87 1.28 1.77 1.54
10. Geraniol 1.68 1.783 0.67 1.20
11. Limonene 1.14 2.68 0.50 0.10
12. Cinnamic aldehyde 35.21 37.72 41.20 55.19
13. Eugenol 9.98 11.57 – –
14. Benzyl cinnamate 0.95 0.19 – –
15. -Phellandrene – – 0.10 3.95
16. p-Cymene – – 0.82 0.64
17. Ocimene – – 0.14 traces
18. -Terpinene – – 0.22 traces
19. Camphor – – 3.19 0.90
20. Borneol – – 1.18 1.07
21. -Caryophyllene – – 4.00 7.26
22. Cadinene – – 3.06 –
23. Eugenolacetate – – 12.45 2.06
24. Unidentified 7.0 5.0 8.0 5.0
compound
Source: Bradu and Sobti, 1988.