Chemical Content of Agarwood

Yoneda et al. (1984) mentions that there are eight components sesquiterpena on agarwood (gaharu) from Indonesia, namely α-agarofuran, 10-epi-γ-eudesmol, agarospirol, jinkohol, jinkoh-eremol, jinkohol II, kusunol, and oxo-agarospirol. Nakanishi et al. (1984) reported that there are 3 sesquiterpena which has a fragrant aroma, namely α-agarofuran, (-)-10-epi-γ-eudesmol, and oxo agarospirol. Besides sesquiterpena, Indonesia agarwood ( A. malaccensis )  contains the principal components of chromone. Chromone is what causes the scent of agarwood when burned (Burfield 2005). Konishi et al. (2002) report has identified six new derivatives Chromone that play a role in determining the fragrance of agarwood.

Chemical substances which are usually found in Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.

No	Chemicals	%
1	2-(2-(4 methoxyphenyl)ethyl)chromone	27.0
2	2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone	15.
3	oxo agarospirol	5.0
4	9,11-eremophiladien-8-one	3.0
5	6-methoxy-2(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)chormone	2.5
6	guaia-1(10),11-dien-15-al	1.5
7	selina-3,11-dien-ol	1.5
8	kusunol	1.4
9	selina-2,11-dien-14-ol	1.0
10	guaia-1(10), 11-dien-15-oic acid	1.0
11	selina-3,11-dien-9-one	0.8
12	jinko-eremol	0.7
13	selina-4,11-dien-14-al	0.7
14	dihydrokaranone	0.7
15	selina-3,11-dien-14-al	0.6
16	2-hydroxyguaia-1(10),11-dien-15-oic acid	0.4
17	b-agarfuran	0.4
18	guaia-1(10),11-dien-15-ol	0.3
19	guaia-1(10),11-dien-15,2-olide	0.3
20	selina-3,11-dien-14-oic acid	0.3
21	norketoagarfuran	0.2
22	agarspirol	0.2
23	sinenofuranol	0.2
24	selina-4,11-dien-14-oic acid	0.2
25	9-hydroxyselina-4,11-dien-14-oic acid	0.2
26	dehydrojinkoh-eremol	0.2
27	rotundone	0.1
28	a-bulnesene	0.1
29	karanone	0.1
30	a-guaiene	0.1
31	bulnesene oxide	0.1
32	guaia-1(10),11-dien-9-one	0.1
33	1,5-epoxy-norketoguaiene	0.1
	Total Source	65

Ref:

1. Ishihara et al., 1993 http://rakbankerd.com/agriculture/wb/show.php?Category=agriculture&No=312
2. Tony Burfield 2005 http://www.cropwatch.org/agarchem.htm
3. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov