The various parts of Cinnamomum Loureirii, Nees1) are used in japan as cinnamon. The tree, known as Nikkei, grows in the hottest part of japan, namely in the provinces Tosa and Kii. Oils have been distilled from both overground and underground parts of the tree.

1. Oil from the leaves and young twigs

The oil, obtained with a yield of 0,2 p. c, is light yellow in color and possesses an agreeable odor reminding one of citral and Ceylon cinnamon oil. The properties of an oil examined by Schimmel & Co.2), were as follows: d15o 0,9005; aD - 8° 45'; A. V. 3,01; E. V. 18,6. It is soluble in 2 to 2,5 vol. or more of 70 p. c. alcohol, the solution being opalescent. However, it forms a clear solution with an equal volume or more of 80 p.c. alcohol. The oil contained 27 p. c. of aldehydes, mostly citral (m.p. of (f-citryl-i-naphthocinchoninic acid 199°). Upon fractionation of the non-aldehydic constituents cineol and linalool (d16o0,8724; aD - 17°; nD20o1,46387) were found. Of the latter compound the oil probably contains at least 40 p.c.

1) According to E. Perrot and P. Eberhardt (Bull. Sciences pharmacol. 16 [1909], No. 10 and 11; Report of Schimmel & Co. April 1910, 31) the cinnamon produced in Tonquin and Annam which, according to former statements (Comp. Cayla, Journ. d'AgricuIture tropicale 9 [1909], 164; Report of Schimmel & Co. October 1909, 39), was supposed to be derived form C. Loureirii, is obtained form varieties of C. obtusifolium, Nees.

2) Report of Schimmel & Co. October 1904, 96.

K. Keimatsu1) found eugenol as well as citral in the leaf oil.

2. Oil of the stems

According to K. Keimatsu1) the oil contains cinnamic aldehyde as principal constituent, also small amounts of eugenol.

3. Oil of the roots

Upon distillation of the root bark, known as ryomaki, Shimoyama2) obtained 1,17 p.c. of a light yellowish, strongly refractory oil with d15o0,982. Like the genuine cinnamon oil it contains cinnamic aldehyde. The portion of the oil which does not react with potassium bisulphite has an odor of lavender and boils between 175 and 176°. According to analysis it contains 87,78 p.c. C and 11,33 p.c. H, hence consists of a terpene.

In addition, Keimatsu1) found camphene, cineol and linalool therein.