Neolitsea zeylanica

Details Top

Internal ID UUID6440475fa957b105057573
Scientific name Neolitsea zeylanica
Authority (Nees & T.Nees) Merr.
First published in Philipp. J. Sci. 1(Suppl.): 57 (1906)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Leaf essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of fresh foliage, marketed as a natural fragrance ingredient.
- Wood harvested locally and used as fuel for cooking and heating.

Industrial and craft applications:
- The essential oil provides a fresh, camphoraceous scent to soaps, detergents, candles, incense, and air‑fresheners.
- Fuel‑wood is burned in rural households and small‑scale industries for heat production and occasional charcoal making.

Wood and fiber:
- The species produces a moderate‑density wood (≈0.65 g cm⁻³) that burns steadily and generates low smoke, making it suitable for fuel use.
- The wood splits easily and is traditionally collected for household fuel rather than for construction or large‑scale manufacturing.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
- Leaf essential oil, rich in eucalyptol (≈30–40 % of volatiles), α‑pinene, and linalool, is incorporated into perfumery blends and used as a fragrance component in body lotions, creams, shampoos, and other cosmetic products.
- Its stable aroma and solubility in ethanol enable formulation into both aqueous and alcoholic bases.

Properties relevant to use:
- Essential oil: relative density 0.86–0.88 g cm⁻³ at 20 °C; clear to pale yellow; flash point >50 °C; major volatiles include eucalyptol, α‑pinene, β‑pinene, and linalool; miscible with ethanol and many carrier oils; suitable for diffusion and cold‑process products.
- Wood: average moisture content 12–15 % after air‑drying; low resin content; combustion yields consistent heat output; density around 0.65 g cm⁻³, facilitating handling and transport for fuel applications.

Standards and regulation:
- Essential oil batches are tested according to ISO 11016 (determination of relative density) and ISO 279 (gas‑chromatographic analysis) to verify composition and purity before sale as a fragrance material.
- Use of the oil in cosmetics within the EU must comply with the Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009, which restricts certain fragrance substances and requires safety assessments.
- Fuel‑wood harvesting and trade are subject to national forest regulations (Sri Lanka Forest Department guidelines) that limit harvest volumes and promote sustainable extraction.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- Neolitsea zeylanica is native to mixed evergreen forests of Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats; populations are stable and the species is not listed in the CITES Appendices.
- Leaves for oil extraction are obtained from cultivated trees or from selective pruning of wild stands, ensuring the main canopy is not depleted.
- Fuel‑wood is collected from thinning operations and understorey clearing, providing a renewable source while maintaining forest structure.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Laurus verticillata Royen ex Blume Mus. Bot. 1: 346 (1851)
Litsea pseudoculitlawan (Nees) Nees Syst. Laur. : 632 (1836)
Malapoenna involucrata Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 571 (1891)
Malapoenna pseudoculitlawan (Nees) Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 573 (1891)
Neolitsea foliolosa A.M.Cowan & Cowan Trees N. Bengal : 111 (1929)
Neolitsea involucrata (Kuntze) Alston Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Peradeniya) 11: 208 (1929)
Tetradenia pseudoculitlawan Nees Allg. Gartenzeitung (Otto & Dietrich) 1: 373. 1833
Litsea zeylanica Nees & T.Nees Cinnam. Disp. : 58 (1823)
Tetradenia zeylanica (Nees & T.Nees) Nees Pl. Asiat. Rar. (Wallich). ii. 64.
Laurus camphora Thunb. ex Blume Mus. Bot. 1: 346 (1851)
Laurus involucrata Lam. Encycl. 3: 445 (1792)
Tetranthera foliosa Wall. Numer. List : n.° 2563 (1830)
Litsea ceylanica Nees & T.Nees Syst. Laur. : 626 (1836)
Laurus nitida B.Heyne ex Wall. Numer. List : n.° 2582 B (1830)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Chinese 南亚新木姜
Chinese 南亚新木姜子
Chinese 土玉桂
Chinese 南亞新木薑子

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
    • Indo-China
      • Cambodia
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Malaya

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0001071589
Tropicos 17805034
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:467043-1
The Plant List tro-17805034
Open Tree Of Life 5699232
NCBI Taxonomy 1504467
IUCN Red List 175608331
IPNI 467043-1
iNaturalist 425733
GBIF 4178978
USDA GRIN 413305
CMAUP NPO17156
CMAUP NPO23759

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Pest categorisation of Milviscutulus mangiferae Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Antonatos S, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, Papachristos D, MacLeod A EFSA J 24-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9951084
doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7846
PMID:36846380
Chemical characteristics of the sesquiterpenes and diterpenes from Lauraceae family and their multifaceted health benefits: A review Feng H, Jiang Y, Cao H, Shu Y, Yang X, Zhu D, Shao M Heliyon 07-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9801090
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12013
PMID:36590503
The thermal niche and phylogenetic assembly of evergreen tree metacommunities in a mid-to-upper tropical montane zone Das AA, Ratnam J Proc Biol Sci 29-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9240684
doi:10.1098/rspb.2022.0038
PMID:35765839
Mangrove floristic composition dataset of the Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu Malaysia Muhammad Nor SM, Sahari MS, Razali NA, Salam MR, Wan Mustaffa WF, Stephen ER, Yusof RM, Jamaludin PN, Jamaludin PN, Mokhetar N Data Brief 04-Mar-2022
PMCID:PMC8960900
doi:10.1016/j.dib.2022.108020
PMID:35360048
Sesquiterpenes of Neolitsea zeylanica Merr.—III B.S. Joshi, V.N. Kamat, T.R. Govindachari Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)83310-X

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives
Norbergenin 73192 Click to see 314.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Galloyl esters
Methyl Gallate 7428 Click to see 184.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols
1-Octacosanol 68406 Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCO 410.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Diterpene lactones
5-hydroxy-7-[(2E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,6,10,14-tetraenyl]-3H-benzofuran-2-one 16728597 Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(=CCCC(=CCC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(=O)C2)O)C)C)C)C 422.60 unknown via CMAUP database
Rhuscholide A 16655065 Click to see 462.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(6beta)-6-Hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid 44593478 Click to see 470.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Betulin 72326 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)CO 442.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Betulinic Acid 64971 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Betulonic acid 122844 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)C)C(=O)O 454.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Lupeol 259846 Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C 426.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Moronic Acid 489941 Click to see 454.70 unknown via CMAUP database
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17S)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 122411793 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides
[(1R,7R,8R,10R)-3,8-dimethyl-14-oxo-5,9,15-trioxatetracyclo[11.2.1.02,6.08,10]hexadeca-2(6),3,13(16)-trien-7-yl] acetate 95400930 Click to see 318.32 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)83310-X
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Astragalin 5282102 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
quercetin 3-O-beta-L-rhamnopyranoside 5320854 Click to see 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
(R)-5-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-(((2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)chroman-4-one 40473202 Click to see 434.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Prunin 92794 Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O 434.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
Demethoxykanugin 10381709 Click to see COC1=CC2=C(C=C1)C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)OC 326.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / Retro-dihydrochalcones
Ovalitenone 627910 Click to see 338.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins
1,2,3,6-Tetra-O-Galloyl-Beta-D-Glucose 73178 Click to see 788.60 unknown via CMAUP database
1,2,4,6-Tetra-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose 11297287 Click to see 788.60 unknown via CMAUP database
Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose 65238 Click to see 940.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins
[(10R,11R,12R,13R,15R)-3,4,5,12,21,22,23-heptahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-13-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-11-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 14481558 Click to see C1C2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5C6=C(C(=C(C=C6C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O 786.60 unknown via CMAUP database
[(10R,11R,12R,13S,15R)-3,4,5,12,13,21,22,23-octahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-11-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 10461723 Click to see C1C2C(C(C(C(O2)O)O)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4C5=C(C(=C(C=C5C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O 634.50 unknown via CMAUP database
[(11R,12R,14R,15R,37R,38R,40R,57R,58S,64S)-4,5,6,20,21,22,25,26,30,31,32,38,46,47,48,51,52-heptadecahydroxy-9,17,35,43,55,61-hexaoxo-12,64-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]-2,10,13,16,28,36,39,42,56,62-decaoxaundecacyclo[35.15.6.514,27.111,15.03,8.018,23.029,34.040,57.044,49.050,54.024,60]tetrahexaconta-1(52),3,5,7,18,20,22,24,26,29,31,33,44,46,48,50,53,59-octadecaen-58-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 16137984 Click to see C1C2C3C(C(C(O2)O)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4OC5=C(C(=C6C(=C5)C(=O)OCC7C(C(C(C(O7)OC(=O)C8=CC(=C(C(=C8)O)O)O)OC(=O)C9=CC(=C(C(=C9OC2=C(C(=C(C(=C2)C(=O)O3)C2=C(C(=C(C=C2C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)O)O)O)OC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C16)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C(=C1)O)O)O 1721.20 unknown via CMAUP database
[(11R,12S,14R,15R,37R,38R,40R,57R,58S,64S)-4,5,6,12,20,21,22,25,26,30,31,32,38,46,47,48,51,52-octadecahydroxy-9,17,35,43,55,61-hexaoxo-64-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy-2,10,13,16,28,36,39,42,56,62-decaoxaundecacyclo[35.15.6.514,27.111,15.03,8.018,23.029,34.040,57.044,49.050,54.024,60]tetrahexaconta-1(52),3,5,7,18,20,22,24,26,29,31,33,44,46,48,50,53,59-octadecaen-58-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 16135666 Click to see 1569.10 unknown via CMAUP database
[(11R,12S,14R,15R,37R,38R,40R,57R,58S,64S)-4,5,6,20,21,22,25,26,30,31,32,38,46,47,48,51,52-heptadecahydroxy-9,17,35,43,55,61-hexaoxo-12,64-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]-2,10,13,16,28,36,39,42,56,62-decaoxaundecacyclo[35.15.6.514,27.111,15.03,8.018,23.029,34.040,57.044,49.050,54.024,60]tetrahexaconta-1(52),3,5,7,18,20,22,24,26,29,31,33,44,46,48,50,53,59-octadecaen-58-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 118856192 Click to see 1721.20 unknown via CMAUP database
GlyTouCan:G69718UQ 9918701 Click to see 786.60 unknown via CMAUP database
Woodfordin A 16130308 Click to see 1725.20 unknown via CMAUP database

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