Combination of capillary GC, GC/MS and 13C-NMR for the characterization of the rhizome oil of Piper betle L. (Piperaceae) from Vietnam

The essential oil from the rhizomes of Piper betle L. (betel), collected around Hue, was obtained in 0.20% yield. The oil was examined by a combination of capillary GC and GC/MS. 13C-NMR studies confirmed the structure assignments proposed by retention data and mass spectra of the components with a content higher than 1%. In some instances the structure elucidation based on GC and GC/MS data had to be corrected. More than forty constituents were found of which the major ones were \alpha-cadinol (26.2%), \delta-cadinene (11.7%), and about equal amounts of T-cadinol and T-muurolol (unseparated, together 20.7%). This study clearly illustrates the advantage of complementary identification techniques.