American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2011, 2, 507-510
doi:10.4236/ajps.2011.23059 Published Online September 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ajps)
507
Chemical Compositions of the Leaf Essential Oils
of Aralia spinosa from Three Habitats in Northern
Alabama
Purva C. Davé, Bernhard Vogler, William N. Setzer
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, USA.
Received May 7th, 2011; revised June 10th, 2011; accepted July 10th, 2011.
ABSTRACT
Aralia spinosa leaves were collected from three different habitats in north Alabama. The leaf essential oils were col-
lected by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The most abundant
components of A. spinosa essential oils were the sesquiterpenes germacrene D (28.0% - 37.3%), (E)-caryophyllene
(8.2% - 15.7%), and α-humulene (1.9% - 4.9%); the monoterpene myrcene (up to 15.1%), and the fatty-acid-derivative
(2E)-hexenal (trace to 28.9%). Fatty-acid derivatives and monoterpene hydrocarbons were more abundant in samples
from suburban Huntsville than those from “natural” habitats (Monte Sano Mountain, Wheeler National Wildlife Ref-
uge), while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were more abundant in the natural/wild samples.
Keywords: Aralia Spinosa, Araliaceae, Leaf Essential Oil, Chemical Composition, Germacrene D, Myrcene,
(E)-Caryophyllene, (2E)-Hexenal
1. Introduction
Aralia spinosa L. (Araliaceae), “devil’s walking stick”, is
a large shrub/medium-sized (up to 10 m tall) tree native
to the southeastern United States. The leaves are very
large (up to 1.5 m long, 1 m wide), bipinnate with ovate
leaflets, 2 cm - 10 cm long. The plant produces numerous
tiny white flowers in umbels (July-September) and bluish
drupes [1]. To our knowledge, the leaf essential oil of A.
spinosa has not been previously examined. In this work,
we present and compare the chemical compositions of
the leaf essential oils of A. spinosa from three habitats in
north Alabama.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Plant Material
Leaves of A. spinosa were collected (July, 2010) from
four mature trees growing in north Alabama: two trees
from suburban Huntsville city (34˚38"77'N, 86˚33"45'W,
187 m elevation), one tree from Monte Sano Mountain
(34˚44"85′N, 86˚31"77'W, 427 m elevation), and one tree
from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (34˚37"40'N,
86˚57"08'W, 122 m elevation). The plants were identi-
fied and collected by P. Davé, and a voucher specimen
has been deposited in the University of Alabama in
Huntsville herbarium. The freshly chopped leaves from
each plant were hydrodistilled using a Likens-Nickerson
apparatus. Continuous extraction of the distillates with
CH2Cl2 for three hours gave clear colorless essential oils
(Huntsville #1, 9.52%; Huntsville #2, 6.18%; Monte
Sano, 1.05%; Wheeler NWR, 1.07%).
2.2. Gas Chromatography―Mass Spectrometry
The leaf essential oils of A. spinosa were subjected to gas
chromatographic-mass spectral analysis on an Agilent
system consisting of a Model 6890 gas chromatograph, a
Model 5973 mass selective detector [MSD, operated in
the EI mode (electron energy = 70 eV), scan range = 45
amu - 400 amu, and scan rate = 3.99 scans/sec], and an
Agilent ChemStation data system. The GC column was an
HP-5ms fused silica capillary with a (5% phenyl)-poly-
methylsiloxane stationary phase, film thickness of 0.25
μm, a length of 30 m, and an internal diameter of 0.25
mm. The carrier gas was helium with a column head
pressure of 48.7 kPa and a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Inlet
temperature was 200˚C and interface temperature was
280˚C. The GC oven temperature program was used as
follows: 40˚C initial temperature, hold for 10 mins; in-

Chemical Compositions of the Leaf Essential Oils of Aralia spinosa from Three Habitats in Northern Alabama
508
creased at 3˚C/min to 200˚C; increased at 2˚C/min to
220˚C. A 1% w/v solution of the sample in CH2Cl2 was
prepared and 1 μL was injected using a splitless injection
technique. Identification of the oil components was based
on their retention indices determined by reference to a
homologous series of n-alkanes, and by comparison of
their mass spectral fragmentation patterns with those
reported in the literature [2] and stored on the MS library
[NIST database (G1036A, revision D.01.00)/ChemSta-
tion data system (G1701CA, version C.00.01.080)]. The
percentages of each component are reported as raw per-
centages based on total ion current without standardiza-
tion. The leaf essential oil compositions of A. spinosa are
summarized in Table 1.
Table 1. Chemical compositions of Aralia spinosa leaf essential oils.
Percent Composition
Suburban Huntsville Monte Sano Wheeler
RI Compound
#1 #2 Mountain NWR
760 (2E)-Pentenal 0.1 0.4 0.2 ---
773 (2Z)-Pentenol 1.7 2.0 0.8 ---
795 (3Z)-Hexenal ---a 8.3 --- ---
800 Hexanal 2.8 --- 1.6 trb
833 Furfural --- --- 0.2 ---
845 Unidentified hexenal --- --- 0.5 ---
854 (2E)-Hexenal 24.7 28.9 13.8 tr
911 (2E,4E)-Hexadienal 0.2 0.6 tr ---
934 α-Thujene --- --- tr ---
935 α-Pinene tr 0.6 1.4 ---
953 Camphene --- --- 0.1 ---
978 β-Pinene --- 0.1 0.3 ---
992 Myrcene 13.9 15.1 tr ---
1004 α-Phellandrene --- --- tr ---
1010 δ-3-Carene --- --- 0.3 ---
1027 Limonene --- 0.2 --- tr
1031 Benzyl alcohol 0.3 tr --- tr
1043 Phenylacetaldehyde --- --- --- tr
1087 Terpinolene tr 0.2 1.1 ---
1097 Linalool 0.5 --- 0.2 tr
1184 p-Cymen-8-ol --- --- --- tr
1189 α-Terpineol --- --- --- tr
1374 α-Copaene tr --- tr tr
1383 β-Bourbonene 0.1 --- 0.8 0.6
1391 β-Elemene 0.7 --- 5.1 3.9
1419 (E)-Caryophyllene 10.7 8.2 15.7 12.5
1428 β-Copaene 0.2 --- 0.2 0.2
1453 α-Humulene 2.7 1.9 4.9 4.7
1458 (E)-β-Farnesene --- --- 0.8 0.7
1478 γ-Muurolene 0.2 tr 0.5 0.4
1482 Germacrene D 37.3 28.6 30.2 28.0
1487 (E)-β-Ionone 0.2 tr 0.3 0.4
1494 cis-β-Guaiene --- --- 0.7 1.1
1497 Bicyclogermacrene 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.4
1501 α-Muurolene --- --- 0.2 0.3
1505 Germacrene A --- --- 2.0 3.6
1510 (E,E)-α-Farnesene 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.1
1514 γ-Cadinene --- --- 0.6 0.9

Chemical Compositions of the Leaf Essential Oils of Aralia spinosa from Three Habitats in Northern Alabama509
Percent Composition
Suburban Huntsville Monte Sano Wheeler
RI Compound
#1 #2 Mountain NWR
1516 Cubebol --- --- tr 0.9
1525 δ-Cadinene 0.4 0.2 2.0 2.4
1566 (E)-Nerolidol 1.9 1.2 5.9 10.4
1575 Germacrene D-4-ol --- --- --- 1.0
1578 Spathulenol --- --- --- tr
1581 Caryophyllene oxide --- --- 0.3 1.4
1593 Salvial-4(14)-en-1-one --- --- --- tr
1608 Humulene epoxide II --- --- --- 0.2
1614 1,10-di-epi-Cubenol --- --- --- 0.4
1617 Junenol --- --- --- 0.2
1627 1-epi-Cubenol --- --- --- 0.4
1635 Caryophylla-4(12),8(13)-dien-5-ol --- --- --- tr
1641 τ-Muurolol --- --- 2.0 5.2
1645 α-Muurolol (= Torreyol) --- --- 0.3 1.0
1654 α-Cadinol --- --- 2.5 5.5
1659 Unidentified oxygenated sesquiterpenoid --- --- 0.2 0.7
1664 Unidentified oxygenated sesquiterpenoid --- --- 0.4 1.2
1669 14-Hydroxy-9-epi-(Z)-caryophyllene --- --- --- 0.8
1679 Unidentified oxygenated sesquiterpenoid --- --- --- 0.7
1685 Germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1α-ol --- --- 0.4 1.8
1689 Shyobunol --- --- 0.5 2.3
1739 Mint sulfide --- --- --- 0.1
1760 Cyclocolorenone --- 2.8 --- 0.4
1798 14-Hydroxy-δ-cadinene --- --- --- 0.1
1953 Palmitic acid --- --- --- 0.2
2900 Nonacosane --- --- --- 1.1
Total Identified 99.8 100.0 98.6 95.6
Fatty-acid-derivatives 29.4 40.2 16.5 1.2
Monoterpene hydrocarbons 13.9 16.2 3.2 0.0
Oxygenated monoterpenoids 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.0
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons 53.7 39.6 66.3 61.8
Oxygenated sesquiterpenoids 1.9 4.0 12.5 34.7
Others 0.5 0.0 1.0 0.5
a“---” = not detected. b“tr” = trace (< 0.05%).
3. Results and Discussion
A total of 60 compounds were identified in the A. spinosa
leaf oils, representing 95.6% - 100% of the compositions.
A. spinosa leaf oils from suburban Huntsville, Alabama,
were composed largely of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons
(53.7% and 39.6%), dominated by germacrene D (37.3%
and 28.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (10.7% and 8.2%), and
α-humulene (1.9% and 2.7%); fatty-acid derivatives (29.4%
and 40.2%), mostly (2E)-hexenal; and the monoterpene
hydrocarbon myrcene (13.9% and 15.1%). The samples
growing wild in natural habitats had much reduced
monoterpenes but increased concentrations of sesquiter-
penoids. The most abundant leaf oil components in the
Monte Sano sample were germacrene D (30.2%),
(E)-caryophyllene (15.7%), (2E)-hexenal (13.8%), (E)-nero-
lidol (5.9%), and α-humulene (4.9%). The Wheeler NWR
sample of A. spinosa has similar concentrations of ses-
quiterpene hydrocarbons to the Monte Sano sample, but
virtually no monoterpenoids or “green leaf” volatiles. It
was composed, however, of a diverse array of oxygen-
ated sesquiterpenoids including relatively large concen-
trations of (E)-nerolidol (10.4%), α-cadinol (5.5%), τ-
muurolol (5.2%), and shyobunol (2.3%).
Essential oils from other members of the Araliaceae
have been analyzed. Pinenes dominated the essential oils

Chemical Compositions of the Leaf Essential Oils of Aralia spinosa from Three Habitats in Northern Alabama
510
of Acanthopanax trifoliatus [3], Schefflera heptaphylla
[4], and Aralia cachemirica [5], while δ-3-carene was the
most abundant component of Dendropanax capillaris [6].
The sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (E)-caryophyllene, α-
humulene, and germacrene D were the dominant com-
ponents of Schefflera stellata [7], Schefflera rodrigu-
eziana [6], and Oreopanax nubigenus [6]; (E)-nerolidol
was abundant in both Pseudopanax discolor [8] and Op-
lopanax horridus [9]; and (2E)-hexenal was a major com-
ponent of Dendropanax gonatopodus [10]. The essential
oils of Pseudopanax discolor and Pseudopanax lessonii
had notable quantities of τ-muurolol [8], while Dendro-
panax arboreus and Oreopanax xalapensis were rich in
shyobunol [11].
4. Acknowledgements
PCD is thankful for the summer research stipend provided
by the University of Alabama in Huntsville Research and
Creative Experiences for Undergraduates (RCEU) pro-
gram. WNS is grateful to an anonymous private donor
for the generous gift of the GC-MS instrumentation.
REFERENCES
[1] C. L. Brown and L. K. Kirkman, “Trees of Georgia and
Adjacent States,” Timber Press, Portland, 1990, pp.
208-209.
[2] R. P. Adams, “Identification of Essential Oil Components
by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry,” 4th Edition,
Allured Publishing, Carol Stream, 2007.
[3] A. Muselli, T. M. Hoi, L. D. Cu, L. D. Moi, J. M. Bessière,
A. Bighelli and J. Casanova, “Composition of the Essential
Oil of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. (Araliaceae)
from Vietnam,” Flavour and Fragrance Journal, Vol. 14,
No. 1, 1999, pp. 41-44.
doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1026(199901/02)14:1<41:AID-F
FJ781>3.0.CO;2-B
[4] Y. L. Li, C. M. Yeung, L. C. M. Chiu, Y. Z. Cen and V. E.
C. Ooi, “Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative
Activity of Essential Oil from the Leaves of a Medicinal
Herb, Schefflera heptaphylla,” Phytotherapy Research,
Vol. 23, No. 1, 2009, pp. 140-142. doi:10.1002/ptr.2567
[5] R. S. Verma, R. C. Padalia, A. Yadav and A. Chauhan,
“Essential Oil Composition of Aralia cachemirica from
Uttarakhand, India,” Records of Natural Products, Vol. 4,
No. 3, 2010, pp. 163-166.
[6] J. D. Richmond, B. R. Agius, B. S. Wright, W. A. Haber,
D. M. Moriarity and W. N. Setzer, “Essential Oil Compo-
sitions and Cytotoxic Activities of Dendropanax capil-
laris, Oreopanax nubigenus and Schefflera rodrigueziana
from Monteverde, Costa Rica,” Natural Product Commu-
nications, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2009, pp. 271-274.
[7] B. Sabulal, V. George, S. P. Nediyaparambu and M. Dan,
“Volatile Oils from the Root, Stem and Leaves of Schef-
flera stellata (Gaertn.) Harms (Araliaceae): Chemical
Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity,” Journal of
Essential Oil Research, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2008, pp. 79-82.
[8] R. J. Weston, “Essential Oils from the Leaves of Three
New Zealand Species of Pseudopanax (Araliaceae),”
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, Vol. 59c, 2004, pp. 39-42.
[9] F. X. Garneau, G. Collin, H. Gagnon, F. I. Jean, H. Strobl
and A. Pichette, “The Essential Oil Composition of
Devil’s Club, Oplopanax horridus J. E. Smith Miq.,”
Flavour and Fragrance Journal, Vol. 21, No. 5, 2006, pp.
792-794. doi:10.1002/ffj.1716
[10] W. N. Setzer, “Essential Oil Composition of Dendro-
panax gonatopodus from Monteverde, Costa Rica. An ab
initio Examination of Aromadendrane Sesquiterpenoids,”
Natural Product Communications, Vol. 3, No. 9, 2008,
pp. 1557-1561.
[11] J. S. Werka, A. K. Boehme and W. N. Setzer, “Biological
Activities of Essential Oils of Monteverde, Costa Rica,”
Natural Product Communications, Vol. 2, No. 12, 2007,
pp. 1215-1219.