Essential oil and hydrosol production from leaves and resin of Sumatran camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica)

Resin and essential oil from Sumatran camphor (Dryobalanops aromatica) contains efficacious aromatic compounds for medicine, preservatives, perfumery, and others. Unfortunately, camphor production still relies on harvesting the crystallized resin, whereas essential oils and hydrosols from leaves and resin extraction have never been applied domestically. The objective of the research was to evaluate the essential oils and hydrosol productivity from the leaves and liquid camphor resin distillation. The material used was young leaves collected from Aek Nauli’s experimental garden in North Sumatra, Indonesia, while the crystallized resin was gathered from natural stands in Subulussalam, Aceh. Three replicates of each of two resin qualities and three levels of leaf youth were applied. Conventionally, camphor crystals or oils are produced by cutting, splitting, or notching the stem of standing trees and collecting the fluids that exudes from the wounded resinous channel. This method produces approximately 1.0–3.5 kg of crystals or 500–1,500 ml of oil. Liquid resin and leaf extraction can be employed for essential oil and hydrosol production. Essential oils and hydrosols can be produced using liquid resin and leaf distillation. At the end of steam distillation, the resin produces 2.68–12.1% essential oil and 5.2-28.31% hydrosol. Leaf biomass also contains 0.24–0.76% essential oil. Considering that leaves have been underutilized, essential oils and hydrosol production are promising to optimize the productivity of this non-timber forest product.