The volatile oils from Curcuma harmandii Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae), obtained by steam distillation of the fresh leaves, stems, small and large rhizomes, roots and flowers, were examined by high resolution GC and GC/MS. All oils contained substantial fractions of sesquiterpenes and oxygenated terpenes. The major components of the leaf and stem oils were 1,8-cineole (13.5% and 21.8%), germacrone (11.5% and 15.5%) and curdione (36.8% and 25.3%). The oils from the small and large rhizomes also contained 1,8-cineole (12.5% and 4.5%) and germacrone (9.0% and 20.5%) as main constituents, in addition to β-pinene (22.6% and 1.2%), β-elemene (11.3% and 6.5%) and isocurcumenol (3.7% and 13.4%). The root oil was rich in germacrone (24.4%), isocurcumenol (12.9%) and curcumenol (10.8%). The major constituents of the flower oil were curdione (27.0%) and an unidentified oxygenated sesquiterpene with a molecular mass of 234 Da (12.3%). This particular oil consisted for more than 90% of sesquiterpenes and oxygenated components, which contribute to the special odor of the flower oil.
