Keywords: Neobalanocarpus heimii; chengal, HS-SPME; β-caryophyllene; β-bisabolene

Abstract

Neobalanocarpus heimii locally known as ‘chengal’ is one of the most durable tropical timber species found in Malaysia. The tree occasionally produce flowers and when it does it gives out some scented fragrance to the surrounding. In this study, the flowers of N. heimii were collected, distilled and examined by automated HS-SPME-GCMS and GCMS. The volatile constituents consisted of β-caryophyllene (25.02%), germacrene D (13.02%), β-bisabolene (9.02%), (2E,6Z)-farnesol (7.56%), α-humulene (6.18%), β-sesquiphellandrene (4.25%), bicyclogermacrene (3.06%), 7-epi-sesquithujene (2.64%), α-bisabolol (1.67%), caryophyllene oxide (1.50%), α-cadinol (1.11%) and (Z,E)-α-farnesene (0.98%). All HS-SPME extractions were conducted using PDMS and DVB/CAR/PDMS fibres and showed similar typical chromatograms as in essential oils but with varying concentrations. Chemical compounds which might be responsible for the aroma of the flower oils could be described by the presence of (E)-β-farnesene, β-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene and cis-α-bergamotene.