Abstract:
The bark oil and leaf oil obtained by hydro-distillation of Sri Wijeya and Sri Gemunu varieties of
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume were investigated by Gas chromatography-Flame Ionisation
Detector (GC-FID) and Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The main
constituent in both bark oils was cinnamaldehyde, which is 50.2% and 76.1% in Sri Wijeya and
Sri Gemunu respectively. Thirty eight compounds were quantified in the bark oil of Sri Wijeya
with other major chemical components including eugenol (14.9%), cinnamyl acetate (10.3%),
benzyl benzoate (9.8%), β-linalool (2.6%), β-phellandrene (2.4%) and caryophellene (1.7%). The
principal other components in bark oil of Sri Gemunu were β-linalool (5.2%), cinnamyl acetate
(3.6%), β-phellandrene (3.6%), eugenol (1.9%), -terpinene (1.4%) and caryophellene (0.7%)
among forty one compounds. Twenty nine compounds were identified and quantified in each
leaf oil of Sri Wijeya and Sri Gemunu. However, the predominant components in cinnamon leaf
oil of Sri Wijeya variety were eugenol (92.4%) and cinnamaldehyde (3.3%). Also the major
compounds in leaf oil of Sri Gemunu variety were eugenol (91.0%), caryophellene (2.6%) and
linalool (1.6%). Sri Gemunu variety showed the highest mean bark oil yield (3.4%, v/w) and leaf
oil yield (2.4%, v/w).Ceylon cinnamon is an aromatic, spice crop having wide applications in
perfumery, medicine flavorings and beverages Industries. Ceylon cinnamon bark oil and leaf oil
make considerable contribution towards the export income generated from agricultural plant
products in Sri Lanka. Hence, high yield and Quality commercial cinnamon cultivars are
required. Cinnamon varieties that used to analyze here are still in experimental level. This study
confirms that Sri Gemunu variety has much better yield in bark oil as well as leaf oil compare to
Sri Wijeya and commercial variety of Ceylon cinnamon. Also high level of cinnamaldhyde in Sri
Gemunu cinnamon can leads to high demand and high value cinnamon bark oil in to
international market.
