AROMATIC PLANTS OF TROPICAL CENTRAL-AFRICA .23. CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF LEAF ESSENTIAL OILS OF EUCALYPTUS-GONIOCALYX F MUELL AND EUCALYPTUS-PATENS BENTH GROWN IN RWANDA

The chemical compositions of leaf essential oils of Eucalyptus goniocalyx F. Muell. (Syn. E. elaeophora) and Eucalyptus patens Benth. from Rwanda were determined by GC and GC/MS. About 60 compounds have been identified in both oil samples which are monoterpenoid in character (E. goniocalyx, 72.8%; E. patens, 91.2%). The major components of the oil off, goniocalyx are alpha-pinene (29.0%), 1,8-cineole (18.0%), and p-cymene (17.2%). In E. patens oil, 1,8-cineole is the constituent that is most abundant (39.6%) followed by limonene (32.5%) and alpha-pinene (11.3%). Among the minor compounds off, goniocalyx and E. patens oils, 2,3-dioxabicyclo[4.4.0] decane structures and derivatives (respectively 3.9% and 0.3%) were identified for the first time in the volatile oils of these two species.