Composition of the leaf oils of Rutaceae: Zanthoxylum hyemale A. St. Hill, Z rhoifolium Lam. and Z-rugosum A. St. Hill et.Tul.

The volatile oil composition obtained from the leaves of Zanthoxylum hyemale, Z. rhoifolium and Z. rugosum have been investigated by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-five compounds were identified representing ca. 93.8%, 93.1% and 90.1% of the oils, respectively. The main constituents of the oil of Z. hyemale were found to be (E)-nerolidol (49.8%) and germacrene D (13.5%). The oils of Z. rhoifolium and Z. rugosum were found to contain germacrene D (11.7% and 28.8%, respectively) and bicyclogermacrene (35.4% and 26.8%).