Lovage 441
reported to contain b-phellandrene (69.3%), terpinenyl acetate (4.2%) and a-terpineol
(2.1%) as the major components (Dyduch et al., 2003). The major volatile oil components
of lovage parts are shown in Table 26.1.
In the study by Stahl-Biskup and Wichtmann (1991), the essential oil composition
of lovage root between seedlings and adult plants was compared. In adult plants the
essential oil, Z-ligustilide and the biosynthetically related pentylcyclohexa-1,3-diene
form more than 50% of the oil, while germacrene-B and b-phellandrene are the
minor components. These findings revealed that the production of pentylcyclohexadiene
and phthalides are begun at about 11 and 18 weeks after germination respectively,
and after 20 weeks of germination, the amount of Z-ligustilide reaches about 30% of
essential oil.
Seasoning-like flavor substances of the commercial lovage extract were studied
by Blank and Schieberle (1993). Aroma extract dilution analysis resulted in six
odorants having high sensory relevance. They were identified as 3-hydroxy-4,5-
dimethyl-3(2H)-furanon (sotolon) with seasoning-like odor, (E)-b-damascenone with
honey-like odor, 2-ethyl-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-(2H)-furanone (homofuraneol) and
4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanon with caramel-like odor, 3-methylbutanoic acid
with rancid odor and acetic acid with pungent odor (Fig. 26.2). Sotolon was reported
as the key aroma compound of the acidic fraction of lovage extract due to its
characteristic seasoning-like flavor and high flavor dilution factor.
Lovage, as the other plants of the Apiaceae family, contains furocoumarins
(Fig. 26.3) (Nielsen, 1970; Murray et al., 1982). Some furocoumarins such as psoralen,
5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) are potent
photosensitizers when activated by near-UV light (300–380 nm). They intercalate
readily into DNA and form light-induced mono- or di-adducts with pyrimidine bases.
Thus, they are phototoxic, mutagenic and photocarcinogenic. Severe dermatitis can
result after contact with furocoumarin-containing plants in the presence of sunlight
(Pathak, 1974). The fruits of lovage contain imperatorin as a major compound and
small amounts of 5-MOP, 8-MOP and psoralen (Naves, 1943; Dauksha and Denisova,
1969; Ceska et al., 1987). Psoralen was identified with 5-MOP by Karlsen (1968) as
being present in the lovage root. Other cumarines such as umbelliferone and apterin
were also isolated and characterized from the lovage (Karlsen, 1968; Fischer and
Svendsen, 1976) (Fig. 26.3).
Najda et al. (2003) determined the phenolic acids and tannins content of different
anatomical parts of the plant (Table 26.2). Total phenolic acid content of different
parts of the plant has been reported as: roots (0.12–0.16%), herb (0.88–1.03%), stems
Table 26.1 The major volatile oil constituents of lovage parts
Constituent Retention Leaves Stems Flowers/ Roots
indices seeds
a-Pinene 928 0.4 – 0.8 1.0 – 1.2 2.9 – 5.3 2.0 – 12.7
b-Pinene 967 1.0 – 1.7 0.2 – 0.8 2.9 – 17.7 2.5 – 6.6
Myrcene 981 1.6 – 4.4 1.2 – 3.4 2.2 – 7.1 0.3 – 0.8
a-Phellandrene 994 0.4 – 1.2 0.1 – 1.2 1.0 – 2.9 0.2 – 0.5
b-Phellandrene 1019 13.4 – 26.5 10.8 – 28.5 11.7 – 63.1 1.7 – 15.5
Pentylcyclohexadiene 1125 0.3 – 0.9 0.2 – 0.5 0.2 – 0.4 7.4 – 29.3
a-Terpinyl acetate 1338 49.7 – 70.0 48.2 – 68.9 4.5 – 16.2 0.1 – 0.2
(Z)-Ligustilide 1697 4.4 – 11.7 4.8 – 13.8 5.6 – 16.0 37.0 – 67.5
Source: Hogg (2001).