Brazilian rosewood and its essential oil

Abstract

In the French Guaiana grows a Lauraceae described by Aublet (1762-1764) who named it as Licaria Guianensis (Female rosewood). This plant produces essential oil. According to the botanical studies of Ducke the Lauraceae of the Amazonic basin that produce essential oil of rose wood are Aniba rosaeodora Ducke and Aniba duckei Kosterm. or Aniba rosaeodora var. amazonica Ducke. The Brasilian rosewood essential oil obtained from Aniba rosaeodora Ducke presents dextro rotatory activity and the Female rosewood from French Guaiana presents rotation to the left. The determination of linalol, main constituent of the essence, by the Boulez method (acetilation in presence of xylol) gave low percentages. By deshydration (as studied by Ikeda and Takeda and by (lottlieb) the results were similar, about 91 %.