Essential oil of Amyris balsamifera

Abstract The essential oil composition of Amyris balsamifera was investigated by GC-MS. Major constituents were separated by fractional distillation and various chromatographic techniques, and identified by mass, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and/or chemical reactions. The oil consisted of 17.5% sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 82.5% oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Major compounds were β-sesquiphellandrene, elemol, 10- epi -γ-eudesmol, γ-eudesmol, valerianol, α-eudesmol, 7- epi -α-eudesmol and β-eudesmol. 7- epi -α-Eudesmol is reported for the first time as a natural product.