Constituents of the essential oil from leaves and buds of clove (Syzigium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston)

Essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh leaves and dry buds of Syzigium caryophyllatum were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Thirty eight components were identified in the leaf oil. The main components were eugenol (74.3%), eucalyptol (5.8%), caryophyllene (3.85%) and a-cadinol (2.43%). Thirty one components were identified in bud oil with the main components being eugenol (49.7%), caryophyllene (18.9%), benzene,1-ethyl-3-nitro (11.1%) and benzoic acid,3-(1-methylethyl) (8.9%). The clove oil from Bangladesh was found to be comparable in terms of its eugenol content. It is suggested that clove can be grown as an economically viable crop in Bangladesh.