Investigation of the essential oils from three Cephalotaxus species.

Essential oils from leaves of Cephalotaxus fortunei Hook., Cephalotaxus haningtonia K. Koch., Cephalotaxus sinensis Li. and variety Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea Koidz. underwent qualitative and quantitative analysis. The content of the oils obtained by hydrodistillation in the investigated species was 0.01 - 0.22% v/w. Gas chromatography (GC-MS) with flame ionisation detector (FID) showed generally 47 components in the essential oils. In all investigated species the presence of a-pinene varying from 18.4% to 35.1%, as well as sesquiterpene hydrocarbon beta-caryophyllene up to 22% at Cephalotaxus fortunei were revealed as the main components.