The genus Cinnamomum

346 M. Shylaja, P.N. Ravindran and K. Nirmal Babu
micromorphological differences among the chemotypes. Linalool and citral types have
comparatively larger epidermal cells and aereoles/mm 2 . Cinnamaldehyde and methyl
cinnamate types have smaller epidermal cells and aereoles and more number/mm 2 . In the
leaf essential oil of linalool type, 92.66% is linalool (Nath et al., 1994). In the oil of citral
type, 45.40% is citral. In the cinnamaldehyde type, the oil contains 50.0% cinnamaldehyde.
In the methylcinnamate type 72.42% is methylcinnamate (Table 15.12).
Baruah et al. (1999a) reported the result of a GC/MS analysis of leaf and bark oils of a particular
chemotype, the bark oil of which contained 65.6% cinnamaldehyde and the leaf
oil contained geranial (27.8%) geraniol (23.2%), and neral (17.6%) (Table 15.13).
Nath et al. (1994) reported the composition of a chemotype that contained 60.73%
linalool, 10.5% -pinene, 10.42% -pinene and smaller amounts of benzaldehyde,
camphene, limonene (Table 15. 14).
C. tenuipilis Kosterm
This species is from the Yunnan province of China. Xue-Jian and Bi-quang (1987)
identified the components listed in Table 15.15. It is a unique species in that it has a
very high content of linalool (97.51%) in the leaf oil. This species is a good source of
linalool and is now being commercially planted in China for linalool extraction.
Linalool is the starting material for the synthesis of a variety of perfumery compounds.
C. wightii Meissn
C. wightii Meissner in DC Prodr. 15(1), 11, 1864; Drury, Handb. Indian Fl. 3, 52,
1869; Beddome, Fl. Sylv. T. 262, 1872; For. Man. 154, 1872; Stewart & Brandis,
For.Fl. N.W. India 375, 1874; Hooker f. Fl. Brit. Ind. 5, 132, 1886; Trimen, Handb.
Fl. Ceylon, 3,440, 1895;Bourne, List Pl. S. Ind., 27, 1898; Brandis, Ind. Trees 533,
1906; Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore, 342, 1914, Fyson, Pl. The Nilgiri and Pulney Hill Tops,
1, 347, 1915; Fisher in Rec. Bot.Suv. Ind. 9, 153, 1921; Gamble, Fl. Presidency,
Madras, 1225 (rep. 1957).
Table 15.12 Chemotypes of C. sulphuratum
Chemotypes Salient characteristics Major component in
leaf oil (%)
Linalool Leaves comparatively Linalool, 92.66%
smaller in size (1.74
6.514.5 cm) and glabrous
Citral Same as above Citral, 45.40%
Cinnamaldehyde Leaves comparatively Cinnamaldehyde,
larger in size (25.4 50.00%
5.516 cm); sparsely
distributed, microscopic,
unicellular, simple and
filiform hairs present on
lower surface
Methyl cinnamate Same as above Methyl cinnamate,
72.42%
Source: Baruah et al., 1999a,b.