Abstract

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the rhizomes of Alpinia conchigera Griff. and leaves of Alpinia malaccensis (Burm. f.) Roscoe were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 74 compounds were identified in A. conchigera rhizome oil among them, 40 had not been detected previously. The major chemical class was terpenoids, with eucalyptol (25.85%), chavicol (25.08%), b-pinene (6.71%) and caryophyllene  (3.38%), as the major components. A. malaccensis leaves yielded 47 identified constituents: the majority were terpenoids, but the oil was clearly dominated by a-phellandrene (31.80%), eucalyptol (13.76%), O-cymene (11.45%), b-pinene (11.34%) and limonene (6.44%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and quantitatively.

Key words: Alpinia conchigera, Alpinia malaccensis, GC-MS analysis, essential oil composition, eucalyptol, a-phellandrene.