A Comparative Study of the Oleoresins of Three Pinus Species from Malaysian Pine Plantations

Distillation of the oleoresins tapped from three Pinus species (P. caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis Barrett et Golfari, P. merkusii Jungh and P. insularis Endl.) at several plantations in peninsular Malaysia yielded turpentine in the range of 25.0–38.8% (v/w). The chemical composition of the turpentine and rosin were examined by co-chromatography with authentic samples on two columns of different polarity, by capillary GC/MS and retention indices. Turpentine derived from the same species at different sites showed little tree-to-tree variation in the chemical composition but with marked variation in the quantity of some components. All oils contained typical turpentine constituents, with α-pinene as the major component in the range of 65–94%. The resin acid composition of the rosin of similar species from different sites was very similar. The major components of the rosin were levopimaric/palustric acid, which were in the range of 36.0–43.9% in P. var. hondurensis, 30.6–35.7 % in P. merkusii and 35.2–45.1% in P. insularis.