Effect of pH During Distillation on the Composition of the Volatile Oil from Juniperus sabina¹

Abstract

The volatile oil distilled from terminal branches of Juniperus sabina, was found to contain 14 monoterpene hydrocarbons, 1 sesquiterpene hydrocarbon and 12 oxygenated monoterpenes. Comparison with the volatile fraction of a solvent extract revealed that the distillation method generated appreciable amounts of terpinen-4-ol, α- and γ-terpinene and terpinolene at the expense of sabinene and cis- and trans -sabinene hydrate. It is shown that these conversions are caused by the acidity of the distillation water. Key Word Index Juniperus sabina - Cupressaceae - Essential Oil - Distillation - pH-Influence.