Volatile oil constituents of several cultivars of persimmon leaves.

Four samples used were: dried medicinal herb [A] and fresh leaves of Fuyugaki [B], Fujigaki [C] and Jitsuseisibugaki (Senboro) [D]. The fresh leaves of the latter were collected at Nishikamo, Aichi in October 1986. The volatile oils were obtained by steam distilation with the following yields: [A] 0.05%, [B] 0.02%, [C] 0.02% and [D] 0.02%. The components of the volatile oils were investigated by IR, GC and GC-MS. The volatile oils were composed of alkanes, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, carboxylic acids, esters, phenols and heterocyclic compounds, in which the major common components were p-cresol, phenethyl alcohol, hexanoic acid and methyl-4-pentenoate. The eugenol and dihydroactinidiolide found predominantly in [A] oil were minor components of [C] oil. Eugenol content in [C] oil was less than 4% of [A] oil, and dihydroactinidiolide abundant in [A] oil was at a trace level in [C] oil.