Characteristic odor components in the essential oil from yacón tubers (Polymnia sonchifoliaPoepp. et Endl.)

Abstract The composition of the essential oil from yacón tubers (Polymnia sonchifolia) was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Sixty-one components, representing 97.7% of the total oil were identified. The main constituents of the oil were α-pinene (33.5%), neo-abienol (15.7%), cis-abienol (15.4%), trans-abienol (7.0%) and 8,12-epoxy-14-labden-13-ol (2.8%). The oil from yacón tubers was also subjected to out odor evaluation by GC-MS-O and AEDA. Nine aroma-active compounds were detected and 2-acetyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine was the odor characteristic compound, creating the yacón odor.