1881. Cascarilla

Nomenclature

Eleuthera bark; sweet-wood bark.

Description and references

Dried bark of Croton eluteria (L.) Sw., Euphorbiaceae. Habit. Bahama Islands, Cuba, Haiti. Constit. About 25% resins, 1.5-3% volatile oil, diterpene bitter principles including cascarillin A (15%). Description and medicinal use: J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 2nd Ed., 2000) p 156.

Derivative

Volatile oil.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 8007-06-5
Oil of cascarilla; oil of sweetwood bark.

Description and references

Constit. l-Limonene, p-cymene, dipentene, eugenol, cascarillic acid. Chromatographic separation of constituents: A. Claude-Lafontaine et al., Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1973 (part 2), 2866. Fragrance monograph: D. L. J. Opdyke, Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 14, Suppl. 1, 707 (1976).

Properties

Light yellow to brown amber liquid with a pleasant, spicy odor. d2525 0.892-0.914. nD20 1.488-1.494. Rotation +2° to +5° in a 100-mm tube at 20°. Very sol in alcohol, ether. Sol in most fixed oils, mineral oil. Practically insol in glycerin, propylene glycol. Keep well closed, cool, and protected from light.

Use

Flavoring agent; as an addition to smoking tobacco for flavoring.

Therapeutic Category

Aromatic bitter.