Extraction of essential oils from five cinnamon leaves and identification of their volatile compound compositions

Five cinnamon species, viz. Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Cinnamomum burmannii, Cinnamomum pauciflorum, were chosen to prepare essential oils by hydrodistillation and to identify and quantify their volatile compound compositions. C. cassia was determined to have the highest yield (1.54%) of essential oil, followed by C. zeylanicum, C. pauciflorum, C. burmannii and C. tamala. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify the volatile compound composition. The results indicated the apparent difference in the volatile compound compositions of essential oils between species. The total numbers of volatile compounds identified from C. cassia, C. zeylanicum, C. tamala, C. burmannii and C. pauciflorum leaves were 22, 22, 13, 6 and 21, respectively. trans-Cinnamaldehyde was found in the essential oil of each species, which was also the major volatile component of C. cassia and C. burmannii leaves. Besides trans-cinnamaldehyde, 3-methoxy-1,2-propanediol was the main volatile compound of C. cassia leaf, while eugenol of C. zeylanicumand, C. pauciflorum and C. burmannii leaves, and 5-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole of C. tamala leaf were also the main substances.Industrial relevanceThe essential oil of cinnamon is an important bioactive substance which has many disease prevention effects. In this work, five species of cinnamon leaves were chosen as materials to prepare the essential oils. The yield of essential oil was determined. The volatile compounds of essential oil were identified by GC/MS analysis. The results showed the significant difference of volatile compound composition between species. trans-Cinnamaldehyde was detected to exist in all the species tested as an important volatile component. This work is helpful for extensive development of this medicinal herb.