Abstract
For many years, various articles alerted on confusions concerning the commercial batches of essential oils of Ravensara aromatica and Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora). Recent work has, moreover, highlighted the existence of five different essential oils chemotypes from the species Ravensara aromatica, which still adds to the confusion. The fifth chemotype identified is described for the first time in this article. The purpose of this research was to check the continuance of this confusion among the essential oils sold in Madagascar and in the North countries. Thirty four commercial batches of essential oils whose labelling refers to Ravensara or Ravintsara were gathered between 2009 and 2011. The information related to the label was analyzed and the chemical composition of the samples was determined by gas chromatography, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and compared with reference samples. The results show that the essential oils sold in Madagascar under the designation of Ravintsara and Ravensara aromatica/ Ravensara anisata are authentic volatile extracts of Ravintsara and Ravensara. In the North countries, the situation is different. Oils of Ravintsara are generally well labelled. But among fourteen samples labelled Ravensara aromatica or Ravensara anisata, only five were authentic essential oils of Ravensara. This confusion, associated with the natural chemical variability of the essential oils of Ravensara and with the problems related to the exploitation of an endemic species of a south country (threat on the resource, weak remuneration of the collectors), raises the question of the durable exploitation of this species.