Volatile constituents from Adenocalymma alliaceum Miers and Petiveria alliacea L., two medicinal herbs of the Amazon

The volatile constituents from the leaves and flowers of Adenocalymma alliaceum and the inflorescences of Petiveria alliacea were analysed by capillary GC-MS. The major components identified from A. alliaceum were diallyl disulphide (leaves: 34.0%; flowers: 49.7%) and diallyl trisulphide (leaves: 58.2%; flowers: 32.7%). The main compounds found in the inflorescences of P. alliacea were benzaldehyde (54.8%), benzyl thiol (20.3%) and dibenzyl disulphide (18.0%). These types of sulphur containing compounds are very common in both species of garlic and onion. Copyright (C)z 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.