Aroma‐active compounds of Pinus densiflora (red pine) needles

Volatile components in the needles of Pinus densiora (red pine), a conifer native to Korea, were extracted by simultaneous distillation–extraction. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that α ‐pinene is the most abundant compound, followed by β ‐phellandrene, germacrene D, β ‐caryophyllene, and myrcene. In aroma extract dilution analysis, α ‐pinene (pine/fresh) was determined to be the most intense aroma‐active compound, with a high avour dilution factor. ( Z )‐3‐Hexenal (green/apple) and bornyl acetate (pine/herbaceous) were also identied as important aroma‐active compounds. These aroma‐active compounds were also detected through headspace solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatography–olfactometry, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Carboxen‐PDMS bres. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.