Chemical Profiles of Essential Oils and Non-Polar Extractables from Sumac (Rhus spp.)

Abstract

Sumac is the common name for a genus (Rhus) with >250 individual species of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae. These plants are globally distributed in temperate and tropical regions and can grow on marginal lands, making them strong candidates for renewable bioproduct sources. Despite the extensive historical use of some members of Rhus spp. for tannins and other commercial phenolics, little is known about the non-phenolic components of extracts and essentials oils. The current review highlights opportunities available to extend these limited prior studies to other sumac species, and for obtaining value-added compounds to complement already established phenolic extractions in these commercial plant species. To date, a number of individual aldehydes, fatty acids, long chain alcohols, terpenes and terpenoids, and waxes of commercial or bioactive potential in essential oils and non-polar extractables from selected members of the Rhus genera have been identified. Additional studies are needed to broaden the phytochemical database from other sumac species, and to better quantify the potential yields of these valuable compounds from the plants under natural and agriculturally managed conditions.