Abstract

Currently extracts fruits of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) (FLC) is mainly used as natural remedies, perfumery ingredients and food additives. This study reports characterization of the extracts from FLC, which widely distributes in southern China, Japan, and other parts of southeast of Asia. The ethanol extracts of FLC were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and GC-olfactometry (GC-O). A total of 29 compounds were identified and quantified. Among them, the predominant compounds in ethanol extracts of FLC were d-limonene (8.52%), α-citral (26.15%), β-citral (33.16%). It also contains abundant of hydrocarbon monoterpenes, monoterpenes oxide and aliphatic acids and esters. The most frequent descriptors of the ethanol extracts components assessed by GC-O were “citrus”, “lemon”, “sweet”, “spicy”, “pine”, “green”. p-Cymene, thujanol, d-limonene, linalool, caryophyllene, α-citral and β-citral are the most important contributors to the aroma of the extracts.

Key words: Litsea cubeba, aroma, extracts, citral.