Components of the essential oil from Matteuccia struthiopteris.

A steam distilled oil obtained from Matteuccia struthiopteris was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil was found to contain 103 volatile components, and (E)-phytol (24.8%), nonanal (15.1%) and decanal (7.6%) as the main compounds. The oil included two aldehydes known as sea-weed like odor, (8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-heptadecatrienal (0.6%) and (8Z, 11Z)-heptadecadienal (0.1%). The most characteristic aroma compound was (6Z)-nonenal.