Composition and bioactivities of the leaf essential oils of Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. from Taiwan

Leaves of Cinnamomum subavenium Miq. were collected from 2 sites in Taiwan. Leaf essential oils of C. subavenium were isolated using hydrodistillation and headspace-GC methods to determine their composition and yield. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various oils obtained were also evaluated. Forty-four and 88 compounds were identified in the leaf oils obtained. Whereas 26 and 65 compounds were identified by headspace-GC method, respectively. The main headspace components were comparable to those of the oil. The main components of one of the oils were methyl eugenol (75.9%), linalool (7.3%), and eugenol (6.6%); while those from the other oil were p-cymene (21.6%), 1,8-cineole (16.5%), and linalool (11.9%). Both leaf oils had excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.