The genus Cinnamomum

230 K. Nirmal Babu, P.N. Ravindran and M. Shylaja
Table 9.13 Average chemical composition of five samples of leaf oils of C. camphora from Madagascar
Compound % Compound %
-Pinene 3.7–4.6 p-Cymene 0.9–1.8
-Thujene 0.6–0.9 Terpinolene t–0.3
Camphene 0.1–0.3 trans-p-Menth-2-en-1-ol 0.3–0.6
-Pinene 2.7–3.3 Linalool t
Sabinene 11.4–14.0 cis-p-Menth-2-en-1-ol 0.1–0.3
-Phellandrene t -Caryophyllene 0.1–1.3
Myrcene 0.6–1.2 Terpinen-4-ol 1.6–2.4
-Terpinene t–0.5 -Humulene 0.4–1.7
Limonene 0.6–0.9 -Terpineol t–0.7
1,8-Cineole 56.7–63.7 -Terpineol 6.9–8.3
-Terpinene t–0.8 Bicyclogermacrene t
(E)--ocimene t–0.4
Source: Chalchat and Valade, 2000.
Note
t trace (0.05%).
vessel was decanted and the residual camphor pressed first in a screw press and then in
a hydraulic press. The yield of camphor was about 1% of the weight of the leaves. The
camphor oil was never used.
Camphor production was also practiced in Sri Lanka, Algeria and also in the USA; in
all these regions the produce was based on leaf distillation. The productivity was about
200–250 kg per ha in USA, 400–450 kg in Algeria, 90–100 kg in India and 80–100 kg
in Sri Lanka (Anon, 1950).
The oil distilled from leaves of plants grown in Dehra Dun is pale yellow in colour,
the main constituents, apart from camphor (22.2%), are d--pinene, dipentene, cineol,
terpineol and caryophyllene. The oil distilled at Dehra Dun from twigs is deep brown
in colour and contains camphor (20%), d--pinene (26%), dipentene (11%), terpineol
(6%) and caryophyllene and cadinene (10%) (Baruah, 1975).
Bhandari et al. (1992) and Bhandari (1995) have investigated the yield and composition
of oil from leaves harvested at different times of the year at Dehra Dun conditions.
Interesting variations were noted in the chemical composition of the oil extracted at
different times of the year (Table 9.14).
In 20-year old trees the oil content remained relatively constant while in two- and
four-year old bushes there was fluctuation in oil content. The highest oil content was
in August–September. Compositional variations indicated that camphor oil of different
composition could be obtained by timing the harvesting of the leaves.
Singh and Negi (1997) investigated the biomass accumulation and distribution
under the Dehra Dun conditions. In the Dehra Dun region camphor trees have been
successfully established as a secondary succession species in the pine forests. The type
of density is typical of that of a climax community formation as defined by Kimmins
(1987). However, due to the homogeneous conditions created by this tree species,
succession has been temporarily arrested in the Dehra Dun valley and the community
has been designated as ser-climax (Singh and Negi, 1997). They have calculated regression
equations for biomass estimation based on various relationships, the most reliable
variables are diameter at breast height (DBH) and D 2 H (D 2 square of the diameter