Composition, chemical variability and effect of distillation time on leaf and fruits essential oils of Myrtus communis from north western Algeria

Hennia, Aicha; Miguel, Maria Graça; Brada, Moussa; Nemmiche, S.; Figueiredo, A. Cristina

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9575

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Authors

Figueiredo, A. Cristina

Abstract(s)

The chemical variability of the essential oils isolated from Myrtus communis L. leaves and fruits collected from the North western Algeria was evaluated along with a hydrodistillation timecourse study of the essential oil main components. M. communis essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils yields ranged between 0.28% and 0.77% (w/d.w.). Although in variable ranges the leaf (L) and the fruits (F) essential oils were characterized by the dominance of the same compounds: α-pinene (23–49% and 21–43% for L and F, respectively), 1,8-cineole (10–24% and 5-31% for L and F, respectively); limonene (11–30% and 9–35% for L and F, respectively); and linalool (2–32% and 1–7% for L and F, respectively). For the first time, Algerian linalool-rich myrtle essential oils (>30%) are described. Higher relative amounts of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene and linalool can be obtained with shorter distillation times.