Part IV.] Simonsen : Constituents of Indian Essential Oils. 
25 
PART VI. 
The Essential Oil from the Seeds of Zanthoxylum 
acanthopodium D.C. 
Zanthoxylum acanthopodium D. C. occurs in the Outer Himalaya, 
Kumaon to Sikkim, Khasi Hills, and Burma. 
It has not unfortunately been possible to definitely identify botan- 
ically the species of Zanthoxylum to which the seeds used in this invest- 
igation belonged. The seeds, which were obtained from Gonda in the 
United Provinces, are stated to be imported from Sikkim. A botan- 
ical specimen obtained from Sikkim could not be identified but it is 
at present considered by Mr. R. S. Hole to resemble most closely Z. 
Planispinum, a Japanese variety. This question is being further in- 
vestigated and it is hoped to obtain from Japan botanical specimens and 
seeds for investigation. A small sample of seeds obtained from Burma 
and definitely identified as derived from Z. acanthopodium yielded on 
distillation an oil which appeared to be identical with the one described 
in this paper. For the present therefore the seeds imported into Gonda 
'rom Sikkim are considered to be derived from Z. acanthopodium. 
The oil from the seeds of Z. acanthopodium has been previously in- 
vestigated (Schimmel Ber. 1900. 50., 1901. 62., 1911. 42.) and was found 
to contain dipentene, d-linalol, and methyl cinnamate. The authors 
can confirm the presence in the oil of these constituents and have in addi- 
tion isolated h-a-phellandrene which would appear to be present in 
considerable quantity. The oil also contained a small amount of an 
aldehyde or ketone, cinnamic acid and a mixture of fatty acids con- 
sisting probably of caproic, caprylic, and oenanthic acids. 
In view of the high linalol content of this oil it would appear to be 
likely to be of considerable economic value. Through the kindness of 
Professor W. H. Perkin, F. R. S. of the University of Oxford, a sample 
of the oil was valued in England and it was stated that it could probably 
be sold at about 6/- per lb. 
Experimental. 
The oil used in this investigation was obtained by the distillation 
in steam at a pressure of 20 lbs. of the freshly gathered seeds which 
prior to distillation were roughly ground. The oil which was obtained 
in a yield of 1-2 per cent had the following constants : — 0'8837, 
N— - 1-4746, [a]^ -t-6-54°, saponification value 60-79, saponification 
value after acetylation 242-5, (this value was determined after 
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