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Abstract
The yield and the chemical composition of Atlas cedarwood oil produced by two distillation modes and seven sample origins were determined. Steam distillation and hydrodistillation gave approximately the same yield (2.5-2.6 mL/100g). The samples from Adrej, Tounfite, Tamjilt and Ajdir gave the highest oil yields. The major constituents in the essential oil were α-himachalene (7.4-16.4%), γ-himachalene (5.1-8.6%), β-himachalene (23.4-40.4%) and (E)-α-atlantone (5.2-29.5%).
Key Word Index
Cedrus atlantica, Cupressaceae, essential oil composition, α-himachalene, β-himachalene, (E)-α-atlantone, geographic variation.
Introduction
Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) is the principal species in Moroccan forests used for production of timber. It is essentially encountered at a high altitude with a surface distribution area of 132,000 ha between Rif, middle and high Atlas. This species can reach 40 m in height and 1 in in diameter. Moroccan cedar plantations are responsible for the production of 100,000 m^sup 3^ timber per year (1). The machining waste, often under-valued, is estimated to be 30% (2); thus sawdust production is estimated to be 18,000 tonnes. This raw material would be important for essential oil production to be used for its medicinal properties and perfumery. Indeed, essential oils are a part of several products such as drugs, perfumes etc. (3,4). The essential oil of cedarwood is rich in himachalenes (70%) (5). Essential oils of cedar are also used for hemi-synthesis of products, such as the arylhimachalones, needed in perfumery (7).
In this work, the yield and the chemical quality of the Atlas cedarwood oils obtained from trees harvested from the middle Atlas forest were studied. The oils were produced both by hydrodistillation and steam distillation. The results of this study could contribute to a better utilization of this raw material scrap. Indeed, oil isolation from Atlas cedarwood would allow a more profitable cedar planting and would offer socio-economic benefits such as currency supply and job creation.
Experimental
The studied sawdust samples were provided from the cedar plantation of the central and eastern middle Atlas (Figure 1). Seven provenances were studied: the central middle Atlas (central Moroccan) is represented by Ajdir and Tounfite localities, characterized by forests grown on limestone1 in a semi-arid climate, and Sidi Mguild and Wiwane localities characterized by forests grown on basaltic soils in a sub-humid climate. The eastern middle...