Chemical variation in essential oil of Cryptomeria fortunei from various areas of China

Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Cryptomeria fortunei from the principal habitats in China. The essential oil yields of samples from various locations ranged from 0.61 to 1.66% (w/w). GC-MS analysis revealed eighty-seven compounds, constituting 85.89-94.75% of the total essential oils. The main constituents were kaurene (0-44.69%), phyllocladene (0.07-32.98%), kaur-16-ene (0-32.28%), elemol (5.28-18.92%), α-cadinol (0-11.39%), α-eudesmol (0-11.21%), α-pinene (2.32-9.15%). The samples were separated into 3 chemotypes by hierarchical cluster analysis, according to the composition of the corresponding essential oils. Chemical composition of essential oils was significantly related to nine geographic distributions among populations. Our results revealed chemical polymorphism in the essential oils of the C. fortunei leaf in China. The chemical variability could be attributed to genetic and environmental factors. The chemical diversity of the oils offers opportunity to choose C. fortunei leaves and essential oils with preferential compound for green plant protection, pharmaceutical, perfume and food industries.