Chemical Composition and Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Twigs Essential Oil from Azorean Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L.f.) D. Don

Alexandre Janeiro, Ana Lima (), Filipe Arruda, Tanner Wortham, Tânia Rodrigues, José Baptista and Elisabete Lima ()
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Alexandre Janeiro: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Ana Lima: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Filipe Arruda: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Tanner Wortham: The Perfumery, 621 Park East Blvd, New Albany, IN 47150, USA
Tânia Rodrigues: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
José Baptista: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
Elisabete Lima: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITAA), University of the Azores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: The growing worldwide demand for essential oils (EOs) brings new opportunities for Azorean Cryptomeria japonica aerial parts waste valorization. Therefore, the phytochemical and bioactivity investigation of EOs from different Azorean C. japonica tissues, such as twigs (Az–CJT), remains imperative to add more value to C. japonica ’s EO industry, alongside the contribution to the local sustainable circular bioeconomy. This study provides, for the first time, GC–MS analysis and brine shrimp toxicity of the EO hydrodistilled from Az–CJT and aims to compare these parameters with those determined for a commercial Azorean C. japonica (branches and foliage) EO obtained through steam distillation. The main Az–CJT EO components were α-eudesmol (19.53%), phyllocladene (14.80%), elemol (12.43%), nezukol (11.34%), and γ-eudesmol (5.32%), while α-pinene (28.62%), sabinene (24.30%), phyllocladene (5.10%), β-myrcene (5.09%), and limonene (4.93%) dominated in the commercial EO. Thus, Az–CJT EO exhibited the highest sesquiterpenoids (43.52%), diterpenes (20.85%), and diterpenoids (13.21%) content, while the commercial EO was dominated by monoterpenes (74.61%). The Az–CJT EO displayed significantly higher toxicity than the commercial EO, with mortality rates of 87.7% and 16.9%, respectively, at 100 µg/mL. This result is likely related to the substantially higher terpenoid content of Az–CJT EO (61.20% vs. 9.44%), largely attributed to the sesquiterpenoid fraction. Due to its distinct chemical profile, Az–CJT EO may have differential commercial applications, warranting further investigation into its bioactive value and safe use. In conclusion, this study adds knowledge on the potentialities of C. japonica aerial parts’ EOs from the Azorean region.

Keywords: Japanese cedar; forest biomass residues valorization; twigs; essential oil; chemical composition; sesquiterpenoids; diterpenes; diterpenoids; brine shrimp lethality; sustainable forest management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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