GC–MS profiling of cinnamic acid and its derivatives in <i>Styrax sumatrana</i> benzoin from North Sumatra: implications for chemotype selection and horticultural improvement

Cinnamic acid and its derivatives are major phenylpropanoid constituents of Styrax benzoin. This research employed GC–MS profiling to characterise cinnamic acid-dominant chemotypes in fourteen resin samples collected from North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, and Pakpak Bharat in North Sumatra. Styrax extracts were analysed to quantify the relative peak area contributions of cinnamic acid and its structural isomers. These compounds were detected in nearly all samples, with the highest cinnamic acid levels being observed in Toba Grade 2 (62.28%), Toba Grade 3 (59.31%), and Bunga Grade 2 (51.50%). To ensure accurate structural identification, the cinnamic acid peak in each sample was compared with an authenticated standard (Rt 36.863 min), confirming compound identity in most cases. These high-performing chemotypes provide a phytochemical basis for resin quality assessment, chemotype selection, and horticultural improvement. The three highest-performing samples were proposed as candidates for further pharmacological investigation.