The genus Cinnamomum

334 M. Shylaja, P.N. Ravindran and K. Nirmal Babu
An evergreen tree reaching 8–10 m in height, distributed in the eastern sub-
Himalayan tract, mainly in Assam and Manipur, up to an elevation of 1300 m. It is
cultivated in the Dehra Dun area (Anon, 1950). The wood of C. cecidodaphne is known
as Nepal camphor or Nepal Sassafras. Its wood is yellowish or light grey in the outer
layers, grading to light brown towards the centre. The wood has a strong camphoraceous
odour. Its timber is valued for cabinet making. The wood on distillation gives
about 2.5–4% of a clear, pale yellow essential oil. Dixit et al. (1989) carried out GC
analysis of this oil and found that the main constituents were: cineole (23.0%), methyl
cinnamate (22.0%), caryophyllene (9.5%), p-cymene (6.5%), linalool (5.6%), borneol
(4.4%) and lesser quantities of -pinene (1.5%), -pinene (2.1%), 3 -carene (1.6%),
-terpenene (2.7%), borneol (4.36%), citral (0.7%) and eudesmol (1.1%). Safrole,
myristicin and elemicin have been identified in the wood oil (Anon, 1950). The seed
contains a semisolid fat that contains lauric acid (83%), oleic acid (12%), linolenic acid
(3%) and linoleic acid (2.5%).
Khanna et al. (1988) studied the essential oil from the fruit rind. The fruits of this
species (known by the name of “sugandh kokila”, though the true sugandha kokila is
C. glaucescens from Nepal) are used in a traditional medicine perscribed as a demulcent and
stimulant. Tobacco manufacturers use this fruit in the manufacture of kimam – scented
tobacco (Khanna et al., 1988). The fruit rind contains about 4.5% essential oil, having a
yellow colour and sweet camphoraceous odour. Its physicochemical properties are given
in Table 15.4. GLC analysis of the oil led to the identification of 17 compounds, the major
ones were -terpinene (26.74%), safrole (17.42%), nerol (8.94%), elemicin (6.9%) and
methyl cinnamate (6.7%). The oil when tested against two pathogenic fungi (Sclerotium
rolfsii and Colletotrichum capsici) totally inhibited the growth of the former at 1000 ppm,
and resulted in 73% inhibition of the latter at 2000 ppm (Khanna et al., 1988).
C. citriodorum Thw.
C. citriodorum Thw. Enum. Pl. Zey. 253, 1861; Meissn. in. DC Prodr. 15(1): 22, 1864;
Miq. Ann. Mus. Bot., Logduno Batavum, 1: 258, 1864; Hook. f. Fl. Br. Ind., 5: 134,
1886; Trimen, Hert. Zey. 69, 1888; Trimen, Hanb. Fl. Ceylon 6: 247, 1931; Kostermans,
Bib. Laur. 284, 1964.
This species occurs in Sri Lanka and south western Ghats. The bark and leaves have the
characteristic smell of lemon grass (citronella), and are used by tribes both as a spice and
as a medicinal plant. A decoction of bark and leaves is used in various stomach ailments.
A medium sized tree with smooth, pale grey/brown bark having a strong odour of
lemon grass. Branchlets opposite, stiff, slender, smooth, almost glabrous; terminal bud
silvery-sericeous. The wood is heavy, close-grained, yellowish, having the smell of
Table 15.4 Physico-chemical characteristics of the essential oil from the fruit rinds of C. cecidodaphne
Specific gravity (nd 25 ) 0.9399
Refractive index d 25 1.495
Specific rotation (in alcohol) [] 25 568
Acid number 8.32
Ester value 72.3
Ester value after acetylation 91.1
Carbonyl percentage (by oxidation as C 10 H 20O) 1.89
Phenol percentage (by absorption) 7.5