Barosma betulina

Buchu leaf oils are obtained by steam distillation of Barosma betulina (Bergius) Bartl. and Wendl. and B. crenulata (L.) Hook. (Rutaceae) leaves. The oils are dark yellow to brown liquids with a characteristic minty-fruity odor, reminiscent of blackcurrant. 

Pilocarpus Leaflets Pilocarpus [ microphyllus J Barosma betulina 1 Brazil... 

Source Barosma betulina (Bergius) Bartl. and Wendl. 

Definition Derived from Barosma betulina, B. crenulata, or B. serratifolia Properties Yel. to brnsh. yel. vise, oily liq. strong bitter sweet mint camphor woody fruity odor, fresh bitter flavor sol. in ethanol, fixed oils insol. in water, propylene glycol sp.gr. 0.890-0.951 ref. index 1.467-1.480(20 C)... 

The essential oil possesses a characteristic, decidedly pleasant odour, somewhat similar to Barosma serratifolia, and the oil shows no separation of diosphenol. It has this feature in common with the oil of Barosma venusta and also Barosma serratifolia, and for that reason may have less medicinal value than the official buchu, Barosma betulina. 

Buchu oil Barosma betulina Leaf SD (+)-fimonene, irawf-8-mercapto-p-menthane-3-one and its S-acetate derivative... 

The irradiation of a-iodoketones (1, 4, 5, 6) in a solvent at room temperature under an atmosphere of air with a 400-W mercury lamp for 2 to 20 hr gave the corresponding a-hydroxy ketones (la, 4a to 6a) in good yields. These results are summarized in Table 56.6, which shows that the a-hydroxy ketones are formed preferentiaUy when triethylamine is added. Moreover, this reaction affords hydroxydiosphenol present in buchu oil obtained from the leaves of Barosma betulina BartL (mountain buchu) (Table 56.7). 

The essential oil, which is present in a concentration of app. 1.5-2.5% in the leaves of Barosma (syn. Agathosma) species (Rutaceae) from South Africa, has traditionally been used as a flavour booster for black currants. Because both common species, B. betulina and B. crenulata, deliver different types of essential oil, they are treated separately in the following. Nevertheless, hybridisation of both wild growing species is observed. 

Production By steam distillation from the leaves of the Buchu trees growing in South Africa, which include various species of the genus Barosma (Ruta-ceae), e.g., B. betulina. 

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