Chemical characterizations of the aromatic compositions of two citrus species: Citrus Aurantium and Citrus Reticulata

Abstract

Extracts of essential oils have various properties in different applications. This work focuses on the chemical characterization of the aromatic compositions of two citrus species: Citrus Aurantium (CA) and Citrus Reticulata (CR) which belongs to the Rutaceae family. The essential oils were extracted by hydro distillation of the aerial parts (stems, leaves and flowers) of citrus and analyzed by gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS). Linalool (27.68%), α‒terpineol (14.05%), γ‒Terpinene (7.33%), cis‒Linalool oxide (6.02%), Nerol (5.97%), Caryophyllene oxide (4.68%), Carvacrol (3.81%), β‒Citronellol (3.50%), Spathulenol (3.20%), β‒pinene (3.12%) and β‒Oplopenone (2.71%) were obtained as majority compounds, with a percentage of 82.07%. In essential oil of Citrus Aurantium (CA) Limonene (69.15%), γ‒Terpinene (12.66%), Nerol (5.65%) and α‒pinene (2.84%) were obtained as major compounds, with a percentage of 90.30%. The highest yields were recorded with Citrus Aurantium (CA) (1.44%) and Citrus Reticulata (CR) (1.06%).