Description
The Mexican linaloe (Burseraceae) should not be confused with
the so-called linaloe cayenne bois de rose from Aniba rosaeodora,
Lauraceae.
Linaloe is a branched tree or shrub that grows wild, or sometimes
cultivated, in tropical and subtropical areas at approximately 1,000
m (3,280 ft.) above sea level. The oil is partially a pathological
product of the plant, since the formation is stimulated by repeated
incisions made on the trunk at periodic intervals. The plant bears
fleshy fruits, ripening between August and September, that also
contain an essential oil. The part used is the wood. Linaloe has an
agreeable, flowery, rose-like odor.
The oil is a colorless to yellow liquid with a pleasant, rose-like,
slightly camphoraceous odor.
The main constituents include linalool (60 to 75%), geraniol, nerol,
methylheptenol, methyl heptenone, myrcene, and various sesquit erpenes.
An essential oil is also steam distilled from the fruits in approxi mately 3% yields. This oil differs in chemical composition from
linaloe wood oil for its content of dextrorotatory linalool. Mexican
linaloe wood oil is often adulterated with the oil from fruits, with
Japanese shiu oil, or with Brazilian bois de rose oil (steam distilled
from Aniba rosaeodora var. amazonica Ducke).
Chemical Properties
Linaloe is a branched tree or shrub that grows wild, or sometimes is cultivated, in tropical and subtropical areas at
approximately 1000 m (3,280 ft) above sea level. The plant bears fleshy fruits, ripening between August and September, that also con tain an essential oil. The part used is the wood. Linaloe has an agreeable, flowery, rose-like odor. The linaloe (Family: Burseraceae)
should not be confused with the so-called linaloe Cayenne Bois de Rose from Aniba rosaeodora (Family: Lauraceae).
Composition
Four lignans were isolated from the stem bark, namely, deoxypodophyllotoxin, beta-peltatin methyl ether, picro-beta peltatin methyl ether and dehydro-beta-peltatin methyl ether. Also isolated was the inactive lignan, nemerosin.*
