Constituents of Steam Volatile Oils from Umezuke and Umeboshi

Abstract

Steam volatile oils were obtained by steam distillation of umezuke [I] and umeboshi [II]. Each volatile oil was chemically separated into three fractions: neutral, sodium bicarbonate soluble and sodium hydroxide fraction. Each fraction was investigated by GLC and GC-MS spectra. The components were characterized in comparison to authentic compounds or published data.
The characteristic major components of the steam volatile oil from umezuke were furfural, 5-methyl-2-furfural, 2-ethyl-3-methyl maleic anhydride, benzyl_??_ alcohol, 2-phenylethyl alcohol and methyl palmitate. The major components of Umeboshi were benzyl alcohol and methyl palmitate.