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 gonioca lyx F. Muell. (Syn. E. elaeophora) and Eucalyptus patens Benth. from R wanda were determined by GC and GC/MS. About 60 compounds have been id entified 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-c ymene (17.2%). In E. patens oil, 1,8-cineole is the constituent that i s 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 (respective ly 3.9% and 0.3%) were identified for the first time in the volatile o ils of these two species.