SANDALWOOD

Sandalwood is the name of a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum.
Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) which is the mascot flora of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is
a tree that has a valuehigh economy. This tree species grow naturally in this province and
mainly come from the island of Timor and Sumba P.. S. Albumis one type of the genus
Santalum and included in the tribe Santalaceae. Sandalwood trade of the island of Timor and
Sumba P. has been running since the 3rd century. InThis article will discuss the origin and
dissemination, botany, ecology and history of trading sandalwood trees (Soedarsono Riswan,
2001).

In the eastern civilization, sandalwood has been traditionally used since 4000 years
Ialu. Essential oils are obtainedof sandalwood is used in religious ceremonies and as
medicines. In western culture, sandalwood is used onlyas the main class of perfume
ingredients. Bam after the 1920s, in line with the development of aromatherapy, the western
nations beginutilizing sandalwood as pharmaceuticals. Essential oils are chemical substances
that make sandalwood to be valuable, eithereconomically, ingredients and perfume
ingredients (Andria Agusta dan Yuliasri Jamal,2001).

The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic
woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods
for use. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued
for centuries. Consequently, species of these slow-growing trees have suffered over-
harvesting in the past century. Sandalwood oil is commonly known for its woodsy, sweet
smell and is frequently used as a base for products such as incense, perfumes, cosmetics, and
aftershave. It is easily blended with other oils, making it desirable as a mix into other
fragrances (Anonim, 1998).

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) generallyfound in areas with a range of bulk. The
annual rainfall of 600-2000 mm; sandalwood cangrow optimally in the range of rainfall 850-
1350mm per year, and still tolerant to rainfall2500 mm of rain per year, but must be withgood
drainage system. Their natural habitatgrow sandalwood usually have seasondry long and a
short rainy season, 2-3 months per year (Hamzah, 1976).

The main components of oil of sandalwood is santalol, a mixture of alcohol

sesquiterpene (C15H240) and santalol, whereas levels greater santalol. In general, the
chemical components of oil of sandalwood is isovaleraldebyd, santane, santenel, teresantalol,
nortrisiklo ekmtalol, santolene, and santalenc. The largest component is santalol of 90% or
more. Sandalwood oil processing is generally performed using a distillation process
(distillation). The work has been done since time immemorial traditionally. Another
alternative in the treatment of sandalwood oil is to use an extraction process of volatile
solvent. The extraction process is expected to increase the yield in comparison the distillation
process (Ronni Kurniawan, et.al., 2007).
Essential oils are chemical substances that make sandalwood to be valuable,
eithereconomically, ingredients and perfume ingredients. Every part of the plant contains
volatile oil sandalwood varied. Roots have the highest oil content, namely 10%, followed by
the patio section rod (4-8%) and branches (2-4%). Eighttwenty to 90% of sandalwood oil
consists of compounds santalol with santalol a-isomer and p-santalol as the main
component.In international trade, sandalwood oil santalol class must contain a minimum of
90% of the total amount of oil. In aromatherapy sandalwood oil is known as one of the
natural ingredients that are nutritious as sedatives, relaxation and resolve casesinsomnia and
asthma attacks. Recent reports also mention that sandalwood oil is blocking the carcinogenic
effects of a substancechemistry. Alpha-santalol as a major component of sandalwood oil can
reduce cases of papilloma (skin tumors) by 32% (Andria Agusta dan Yuliasri Jamal, 2001)
 DAFTAR PUSTAKA

Agusta, Andria dan Yuliasri Jamal, 2001, “FITOKIMIA DAN FARMAKOLOGI

CENDANA (Santalum album L.)”, Berita Biologi, Volume 5, Nomor 5, Agustus 2001
Asian Regional Workshop (1998). Santalum album. 2006. IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 2007-02-08
Hamzah Z, 1976. Sifat Silvika dan SilvikulturCendana (Santalum album L.) Di
PulauTimor. Laporan No. 227. LembagaPenelitian Hutan, Badan LitbangPertanian,
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Kurniawan, Ronni, et.al., 2007, PENGAMBILAN MINYAK CEMDANA
menggunakan EKSTRAKTOR SOXHLET DENGAN VARIASI RASIO UMFAN DAN
JUMLAH SIRKULASI, Makalah Seminar nasional Soebardjo Brotohardjono, ISSN 1979-
0427.
Riswan, Soedarsono, 2001, “KAJIAN BOTANI, EKOLOGI DAN PENYEBARAN
POHON CENDANA (Santalum album L.)”, Berita Biologi, Volume 5, Nomor 5