Essential oils from Litsea species / Khong Heng Yen

Litsea is one of the 35 genera under the family of Lauraceae. A total of 400 species of Litsea are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical Asia (except Africa), the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. In Peninsular Malaysia, Litsea is represented by 54 species (Corner, 1988). Litsea species as well as any other Lauraceae are locally known as 'Medang' or 'Tejur Litsea species are abundant in the wild in Sarawak (Sim, 1971). Litsea trees have smooth bark, brown in colour and are seldom split. Litsea leaves are arranged alternately and singly, rarely subopposite. Litsea is characterized by its inflorescences, trimerous flowers and 4-locular anthers (Henk V.D.W., 2001).