Essential Oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. from Algeria, The

Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR, Nov/Dec 2005 by Benyoussef, El-Hadi, Charchari, Stoyka, Nacer-Bey, Nazli, Yahiaoui, Nabila, Et al

Abstract

The essential oils of Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves from two Algerian populations have been analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Approximately 95% of the components were identified among which terpinen-4-ol (17.3-34.7%), α-terpineol (10.4-11.0%) and germacrene D (8.4-15.8%) were the major constituents.

Key Word Index

Pistacia lentiscus, Anacardiaceae, essential oil composition, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol.

Introduction

Pistacia lentiscus L. is an evergreen shrub of the Anacardiaceae family (1). The essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. is obtained by water distillation of leaves, fruits or from trunk exudates (mastic gum). Several studies concerning the chemical composition of P. lentiscus oil and solvent extracts have been reported (2). The oils of various P. lentiscus populations from France, Spain, Israel, Italy and Egypt were previously studied and different compositions were established (3-19). This paperpresents an investigation of the Algerian P. lentiscus oil composition. The results of this study were compared with those that have been previously published.

Experimental

Pistacia lentiscus L. was harvested in Baïnem Forest near Algiers city andin Taref Forest (700 km east of Algiers). A voucher specimen was deposited in the botany department Herbarium at the Algerian National Institute of Agronomy. A sample (1 kg) of leaves was water distilled for 3 h using a Clevenger-type system. The oil yield was calculated relative to the dry matter. Analyses were performed on a ThermoQuest, trace GC coupled to a ThermoQuest FINNIGAN trace mass spectrometer. A DB-5 fused silica capillary column (30 m x 0.32 mm, 0.25 µm film thickness) was used. GC conditions were as follows: injector temperature, 250°C; split ratio, 1/25; oven temperature, 65°-230°C at 2°C/min; carrier gas, helium; flow rate, 1 mL/min. MS conditions were: ion source temperature, 250°C; ionizing voltage, 70 eV. The oil constituents were identified by comparison of their mass spectra to those of authentic samples and by comparison of their retention indices to those reported in literature (16). GC analyses were performed on a ThermoQuest, CE Instrument GC trace fitted with a FID detector (250°C) using the same column and conditions employed in the GC/MS with nitrogen as carrier gas, flow rate 1 mL/min, split ratio 1/25. The quantitative data were obtained from electronic integration of the FID area percents without the use of correction factors.

Results and Discussion

An oil yield of 0.02% was obtained. Components identified in the two samples are shown in Table I. The chemical composition of Algerian P. lentiscus oil was characterized by a high content of terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol and germacrene D. The monoterpene hydrocarbons were present in low proportions, compared to those found in the oils from Egypt, Spain and some populations from Corsica (Table II). It appears that P. lentiscus from Algeria belongs to terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, germacrene D-chemotype, which could be a new chemotype, this latter having not yet been reported by the literature.

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