Litsea cubeba oil

Chemical properties

Litsea cubeba is a member of the Lauraceae family, which includes the Cinnamomum species and Laurus nobilus or sweet bay. Parts of L. cubeba used include the pepper-like fruits (berries), bark and leaves. Litsea is grown in Tiawan, Japan and India, but primarily in China, which is also the primary market. The berry yields about 3.2% oil on distillation and has a distinct lemon character odor due to the presence of citral (geranial [41%] and neral [34%]), but may be much modified as the result of the presence of other substances. Litsea cubeba oil is often used as the basis for fine lemon flavors.

Definition

Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Litsea cubeba, Lauraceae.

Composition

Major constituents of the stem oil are citronellol (11.9 to 20.4%) and citronellal (7.7 to 10.0%); fruit oils, citronellal (44.8 to 77.2%) and citronellol (10.9 to 14.0%); flower oils, sabinene (41.8 to 42.3%), citronellal (14.3 to 17.3%), β-phellandrene (7.7 to 9.0%), α-pinene (6.6 to 7.6%) and β-pinene (5.8 to 6.1%).* Other investigators reported the major components of essential oils from stem bark, leaf and fruit of L. cubeba from the northern part of India consisted of linalool (78.3%), citronellol (41.2%) and citronellal (76.55%), respectively.