Compositional characteristics of the essential oil of Myrtus communis grown in the central part of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Myrtus communis grown in the central part of Saudi Arabia was analyzed by gas chromatography-based techniques (GC–FID, GC–MS, Co–GC, LRI determination, database, and literature search) using polar as well as non-polar columns, which resulted in the identification of a total of sixty-five components accounting for 98.2% of the total oil composition. The oil composition was found to be dominated by monoterpene components accounting for 89.3% of oil composition. Sesquiterpenes (4.8%) and their oxygenated derivatives (3.5%) were present in lesser amounts. The major compounds of the oil were 1,8-cineole (26.5%), linalool (18.0%), α-pinene (11.6%), α-terpineol (8.9%), and limonene (4.0%). Other constituents which were present in appreciable amounts in this oil are trans-geraniol (3.9%), trans-geranyl acetate (3.9%), α-terpenyl acetate (3.3%), linalyl acetate (2.9%), and δ-cadinene (2.7%).

Keywords:

• Myrtus communis
• Myrtaceae
• essential oil
• 1,8-cineole
• α-pinene
• α-terpineol
• linalool

Acknowledgments

The authors are greatly thankful to the National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST) for funding our ongoing project No. 10-ENV1004-02.