Chemistry of Essential Oils

508 THE CHEMISTEY OF ESSENTIAL OILS

The following bodies have been detected in star aniseed oil: Dextro-
a-pinene, phellandrene (in several modifications), cymene, cineol, di-
pentene, Z-limonene, a-terpineol, methyl-chavicol, hydrokinone ethyl
ether, safrol, a sesquiterpene, anise ketone C 6 H 4 (OCH 3 )(CH 2. CO. CH 3 ),
and anethol.
True aniseed oil has not been so fully investigated, and the only bodies
so far detected in this oil are anethol, methyl-chavicol, anise ketone, and
traces of acetic aldehyde.
The fruit of a plant, Seseli Harveyunum, known in Victoria (Australia)
as aniseed, but which more closely resembles fennel, yields an oil which
has been examined by Umney, who found its specific gravity to be '914
and its rotation + 14°. It was still liquid at 4°. The oil thus resembles
fennel more than anise oil.
A false aniseed, also belonging to the N.O. Magnoliacece, is found in
Japan under the name " Shikimi no Ki". It is the Illicium religiosum,
and its oil is known as Shikimi or Japanese star-anise oil. This oil has
the following characters :—
Specific gravity 0-980 to 20
Optical rotation 0° to - 4° 30'
It contains eugenol, cineol, and safrol, and a terpene, probably limonene,
with some sesquiterpene. The oil from the leaves has a specific gravity
1-006, and optical rotation - 86°. It contains eugenol, safrol, and a
terpene. The so-called anise bark oil, from the bark of Illicium parvi-
florum, is an oil of spicy taste, and odour recalling sassafras and tarragon.
It has a specific gravity -969 and optical rotation — 0° 46'. It consists
chiefly of methyl-chavicol, containing very little anethol.

OIL OF MAGNOLIA KOBUS.

The oil obtained from the fresh leaves and branches of the Kobushi

tree (Magnolia Kobus D.C.) to the extent of about 0*45 per cent., has a

bright yellow colour, and possesses the following characters :—

l

Specific gravity 0-964

Optical rotation - 1° 6'

Acid number .......... 1-5

Ester „ 8-87

It is soluble in 1'2 volumes 80 per cent, alcohol; the greatly diluted

solution shows opalescence. The odour of the oil reminds of sassafras

oil, and gives rise to the presumption that it contains a large proportion

of safrol; the oil also contains among others small quantities of citral.

The species of magnolia which yields this oil occurs chiefly in the central

districts of Japan; the distillation of the oil takes place from July to

September.

A sample examined by Charabot and Laloue

2

had a specific gravity

0-943 and optical rotation - 1° 20'. These chemists detected citral.

(about 15 per cent.) and anethol,' with small quantities of alcohols and

esters. Methyl-chavicol is also probably present. Cineol is also, accord-

ing to Schimmel, a constituent of the oil.

OIL OF CHAMPACA FLOWERS.

The so-called champaca wood oil, commonly known as guaiacum

wood oil, must not be confused with the true champaca oil. The first-

JSchimmel's Report, October, 1903, 78. (^2) Compt. Rend. 146 (1908), 183.