Author
Nor Azah M.A., Abd. Majid J., Mailina J., Abu Said A., Saidatul Husni S., Nor Hasnida Mohamad Nasir M.A & Chang Y.S.
Medicinal Plants Programme
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Programme
Chemistry & Wood Protection Programme, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Selangor
Tel: 03-62797344 Fax: 03-62729805 Email: [email protected]
Language
English
Title
Profiles of Selected Supreme Agarwood Oils from Malaysia
Proceeding
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Seminar (MAPS 2008)
Date
21st October – 22nd October 2008
Place Held
The Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Abstract
Agarwood, also known as gaharu or oudh, is used for the resinous and fragrant heartwood produced by Aquilana species in Malaysia. Highly valued for its fragrance and medicinal properties, agarwood chips and oils are widely traded to the Middle East, Japan and Taiwan, Agarwood is usually distilled to obtain oils using conventional distillation methods and the quality and the price range of the oils varied very much depending on the long lasting aroma, appearance, high fixative properties and consumer perception. For this study, six agarwood oils categorized as supreme, deluxe or grade ‘A’ sold between RM400 to RM2000 per/tola were acquired from local aqarwood oil producers based in Terengganu, Pahang, Melaka and Johor. Examination of the oils by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromography-mass spcctrometry (GC/MS) showed that the essential oil compositions were complex and made up of mixtures of sesquiterpenoids and their oxygenated derivatives. Three oil samples obtained from the same producer in Melaka showed similarities In the GC and GCMS profiles although they were graded differently. The other three oils acquired from Terengganu, Pahang and Johor, respectively, showed similarities but with varying percentage concentrations. All samples were also tested for its physico-chemical properties. Common occurrences of chemical compounds such as-agarofuran, α-agarofuran, epi-γ-eudesmol, γ-eudesmol, agarospirol and valerianol were detected.
Keywords
Aquslaria; gaharu; agarwood oil; chemical profiling; grading
Session
Poster Abstracts
Topic
Think Global, Act Local: A New Paradigm In Malaysian Herbal Industry (Prof. Emeritus Dr. Abdul Latif Ibrahim-UNISEL)
