Volatile components of honeysuckle (lonicera japonica thunb.) Flowers

Abstract The volatile components of the concrete from flowers of honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Thunb. were analysed by GC and GC‐MS. One hundred and fifty compounds, made up of 36 hydrocarbons, 28 alcohols, 21 aldehydes, 12 ketones, 38 esters and 15 miscellaneous, were identified and the important components that characterize the volatiles of honeysuckle flowers were recognized to be linalol, ( Z )‐jasmone, ( Z )‐jasmin lactone, methyl jasmonate, and methyl epi‐jasmonate. In addition, changes of the volatile components emitted from the living flowers throughout the whole day were investigated by dynamic headspace analysis using GC and GC‐MS, and the strongest odour was found to be emitted in the middle of the night.