Qualitative and quantitative study on essential oil of Citrus aurantium L. cultivated in north of Iran

In order to qualitative and quantitative study on essential oil, obtained from leaf and peel of Citrus aurantium L. cultivated in North of Iran (Sari city) the leaves and fruits were gathered on April and November 2002, respectivelly. Clevenger apparatus was used for hydro-distillation extraction in order to provide the oil of leaf and peel of Citrus aurantium L. The outputs of each essential oil were calculated as 0.19% and 1.93%, respectivelly. Analysis and identification of the oil's components carried out by GC and GC/MS and identification was done by comparison of their mass spectra with those of authentic samples together with the relative indices. Fourteen components representing 99% of the leaf oil of Citrus aurantium L. were identified and among them, linalool (39%), linalyl acetate (39%) and alpha-terpineol (7%) were the major ones. Twenty compounds representing 99% of the peel oil of Citrus aurantium L. were identified and among them limonene (91%), beta-Myrcene (3%) and linalool (1%) were the major compounds. In comparison with industrial standards on orange oil preparation that is base on limonene, the cultivated Citrus aurantium L. peel in North of Iran with 91% limonene, is considerable suitable for industrial purposes.