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The main focus of the present investigation is to distinguish Lebanon's cedar from other kinds of cedars. The essential wood oil, which was obtained by hydro-distillation from the heart wood of Cedrus libani and Cedrus atlantica, was analyzed by GC/MS. Fourteen components were identified, among which α-, β-, γ-isomers of himachalene and himachalol (75%) were predominant. Smaller amounts of the (E) and (Z) isomers of α-, β- and γ-atlantone were also presents.
KEY WORDS: Cedrus libani * Cedrus atlantica * Heart wood * Wood oil * Essential oil.
The name of "Lebanon" means 'White', and may have arisen from its mountain peaks being always covered with snow, and/or from the whiteness of the limestone cliffs. The cedar of Lebanon was mentioned 75 times in the holy Bible (old Testament), and is used as symbol of strength and stability. In earlier times, the cedars of Lebanon covered a large area of Lebanon's mountains. Thus, the cedar became Lebanon's Symbol. There are several uses of cedar wood oil. In the cleansing of the Leper, and in connection with the red Heifer, cedar wood and hyssop were used (Leviticus 14:4-52; Number 9:6). The oil extracted from the cedars of Lebanon was used to embalm the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt and modern scientists have demonstrated the antioxidant properties of the wood cedar oil. The body of one of the Roman kings, Noha, was covered with cedar oil for 500 years and it remained well kept due to the preserving properties of cedar wood oil.
Morphological diversity
CEDRUS LIBANI
Cedrus libani1 is a perennial tree having a short and wide trunk, thick branches extended horizontally and making up a broad corona with a pyramidal shape (as we see it in the Lebanese flag). We find this form in Bcharri forest and...