09.04.2013 Views

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

The genus Cinnamomum

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

56 P.N. Ravindran et al.<br />

C. malabatrum and C. nicolsonianum. Flavonoid complexity is greater in C. verum<br />

and C. camphora. <strong>The</strong> complexity in flavonoid pattern in <strong>Cinnamomum</strong> is found to<br />

be the result of o-methylation, which is considered an advanced characteristic in<br />

flavonoid evolution. It was also noticed that flavones have replaced the simpler flavonols<br />

which again is an advanced character in the evolutionary history of flavonoids<br />

(Crawford, 1978).<br />

Infraspecific chemical variability exists in many species of <strong>Cinnamomum</strong> (Table 2.8).<br />

Fujita (1967) attempted a sub-specific classification of many species based on volatile<br />

oil composition. Such infraspecific variability might have evolved as a result of interbreeding,<br />

and forces such as segregation, chance mutations, and isolation mechanisms<br />

acting on the populations. Tetenyi (1970) used the term “polychemism” to denote<br />

the simultaneous existence of more than one chemically distinct form in a species.<br />

This aspect is well studied in C. camphora. <strong>The</strong> Formosan camphor tree (C. camphora<br />

ssp. formosana) is known to have at least seven distinct chemovarieties (Tetenyi,<br />

1970):<br />

chvar. Borneol<br />

chvar. Camphor<br />

chvar. Safrole<br />

chvar. Sesquiterpene alcohol<br />

chvar. Cineol<br />

chvar. Linalool<br />

chvar. Sesquiterpene<br />

Table 2.8 Infraspecific chemical variability in <strong>Cinnamomum</strong> species (compiled from published literature)<br />

Species and references Chemovar Major component<br />

C. camphora A Camphor type (Camphor 80%)<br />

Hirota, 1951<br />

Hirota and Hiroi, 1967<br />

Shi, 1989 B Linalool type (Linalool 80% mono terpenes 10%)<br />

Wan-Yang et al., 1989<br />

Shi, 1989 C Cineole type (Cineole 76% -terpinol 20%)<br />

Wan-Yang et al., 1989 D Nirolidol type (nerolidol 40–60%<br />

sesquiterpenoids 20% monoterpenoids 10%)<br />

E Isonerolidol type (57% isonerolidol)<br />

F Safrole type (safrole 80% monoterpenoids 10%)<br />

G Borneol type (Borneol 80%)<br />

C. bejolghota A Linalool -terpineole<br />

Baruah and Nath, 1997<br />

B Linalool -phellandrene<br />

C Linalool<br />

C. cecidodaphne A Methyleugenol<br />

Birch, 1963<br />

B Methyleugenol 45% Safrole 20%<br />

C Safrole (major) elemicin myristicin (minor)<br />

C. culitlawan A Safrole 70–80%<br />

Spoon-Spruit, 1956 B Safrole (35–53%) methyl eugenol (41–50%)<br />

C Eugenol (80–100%)

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!