Cassia oil and its chemical composition

                                                                                         

Cassia oil and its chemical composition

Cassia oil is extracted from Cinnamomum cassia also known as C. aromaticum and Laurus cassia of the Lauraceae family.

It is also known as false cinnamon and cassia lignea.

Cassia oil is extracted from the leaves, bark, twigs and stalks by steam distillation.

Cassia oil has a warm, woody, sweet, cinnamon, spicy odor.

It is native to China and is also known as cassia bark or Chinese cinnamon.

This slender, evergreen tree grows up to 20 meters high, with thick, leathery leaves and small white flowers. The flowers are followed by single seeded berries.

Cassia bark is widely used to flavor curries, in baked foods, candies and soft drinks.

Cassia oil should not be used on the skin as it is a dermal irritant, dermal sensitizer and is a mucus membrane irritant. It must also be avoided in pregnancy.

The therapeutic properties of Cassia oil are carminative, anti-diarrhea, anti-microbial and anti-emetic.

Cassia dried herb can be useful for digestive complaints such as flatulence, colic, dyspepsia, diarrhea and nausea.

It can also be used for colds, influenza, fevers, arthritis and rheumatism.

The oil is used up to 1 % in the fragrance concentrate and 25 ppm in the flavors.

It is predominantly used in flavoring soft drinks.

It blends well with the essential oils like caraway, chamomile, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, geranium, black pepper, and all the spices.

The chemical composition [in %] of the Leaf or Bark oil is as follows;

Cinnamic aldehyde- 45-50

Cinnamyl acetate- 2-4

Benzyl benzoate- 1-3

Camphene- 1-2

Camphor- 2-3

Delta-3-Carene- 2-4

Caryophyllene beta- 6-8

Para cymene- 4-5

Eugenol- 3-6

Linalool- 3-4

Limonene- 8-10

Alpha pinene- 3-4

Beta pinene-1-2

The minor components of the oil are 2-Methoxy cinnamic aldehyde, Humulene, Eugenyl acetate, Benzaldehyde, etc.

About the author:
Prashantkumar Kudli Shrinivas has a vast industrial experience of Aroma chemicals,Essential oils,Perfumery and Flavour formulations.

E-mail: prashantkudli@yahoo.co.in


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