Composition of the seed oil of Hibiscus abelmoschus L. (Malvaceae) growing in Vietnam

The essential oils of ambrette (Hibiscus abelmoschus L., syn. Abelmoschus moschatus) were produced from seeds collected in the different provinces of Vietnam. Five samples were investigated and 35 components were identified by a combination of high resolution GC, GC/MS and 13C-NMR spectrometry. The major constituents were found to be (E)-2,3-dihydrofarnesyl acetate (32.9-67.3%), (E,E)- farnesyl acetate (14.9-35.5%), the macrocyclic lactone ambrettolide (3.0-5.5%) and (Z,E)-farnesyl acetate (0.9-5.1%). The oils consisted for more than 90% of acetates and aldehydes.