Philip S. Beauchamp, Barbara C. Dev and Vasu Dev*, Sharon L. Midland** and James J. Sims

Abstract: The essential oil from the fruits of Lomatium nevadense var. parishii showed β-phellandrene/limonene, (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, γ-terpenene, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, and (E)-sesquilavandulol to constitute more than 3% each of the oil. With the addition of (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol and palmitic acid, the stem and leaf oil had similar composition. A new sesquiterpene alcohol, trans-dauc-8-en-11-ol along with naturally occurring 2’,3’,3’-trimethyl-2’,3’-dihydroangelicin were isolated. (Z)-Falcarinol made up 48.5% of the root oil.

Among the Apiaceae occurring in the U.S.A., Lomatium Raf. is the largest genus and includes 74 species, which grow extensively in the western states. They flower early in the spring. By early to mid summer, they have mature fruits and by late summer, the plants virtually dry out. The upper parts of the plants have been referred to as “wild parsley” or “desert parsley”. The roots have been given such names as “pestle parsnip”, “biscuit roots”, “incense roots”, and were important to the Native American societies for their food, medicinal values and rituals (1). Lomatium dissectum, for example, was widely used as a medicine and a “fish poison” to stupefy fish for catch (2). Similarly, L. californicum was very important to the Chumash natives living around the Santa Barbara area in California (3). Tea made from its roots was considered “good for everything” from diarrhea to toothache. More interesting, was its use to control rattlesnakes. The root was chewed or soaked in water, and the liquid was thrown on the snake’s body or it was squirted through a hollow tube into the snake’s mouth while it was held down with a forked stick. Previous analysis of essential oils of L. californium showed the root oil to consist of higher than 49.9% of the muscle relaxing (Z)-ligustilide and related phthalides (4). The possibility of the snake stupefying effect of L. californicum to the presence of phthalides, and our interest in the ethnobotany and chemotaxonomy of the Lomatiums native to California, has led us to the present study (5). L. nevadense var. parishii, known as “Parish’s Biscuit”, was used by the Paiutes as a vegetable (6).