ABSTRACT
Litsea cubeba Pers. is an evergreen, rarely deciduous, shrub or small tree 5-12 meters high. The plant is native to Asia and is cultivated in China, Indo-China, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan. Preparations of the root, stem, leaves and fruits of the plant have been used to treat fatigue, fever, chills, headache, dizziness, cholera, diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain, depression, hysteria and paralysis. Litsea cubeba essential oil, also known as May Chang oil, is obtained from the small peppery-like fruits of the Litsea cubeba tree. It is widely used as a fragrance, especially in bar soaps, perfumes, household sprays and fresheners because of its intense lemon-like, fresh, sweet odor, which results from its high concentrations of citral. Litsea cubeba oil is also a popular food-flavoring agent and preservative, paricularly for sugar, cakes, drinks and spices. Litsea cubeba oil is a clear and mobile liquid with pale to darker yellowish color, which has a fresh citrusy, slightly green odor.
