Essential Oil Content and Composition of<i>Lavandula Angustifolia</i>Mill. as Affected by Drying Method and Extraction Time

Abstract

Abstract The aerial parts of Lavandula angustifolia Mill., were collected from Iran at the full-flowering stage and dried by three different drying methods (sun-drying, shade-drying and oven-drying at 45°C). The essential oils were extracted by hydro-distillation method with two different times of extraction (1 and 3 hours) and analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Although extraction time has no significant effect on the essential oil composition, the drying methods yielded significant effects. Forty components were detected in the oil of L. angustifolia under different drying methods, including, 1,8-cineole (29.0-38.0 %), linalool (6.8-19.2 %), camphor (9.6-14.6 %), borneol (8.4-15.2 %) and β-phellandrene (4.0-7.0 %), as main components.