Aromatic Plants of Saudi Arabia - Part 8-* GC/MS Analysis of Essential Oils of<i>Pulicaria arabica</i>and<i>P. undulata</i>

Abstract

The composition of the steam distilled oils of the fresh aerial parts of Pulicaria arabica (L.) Cass, and P. undulata (L.) Kostel was investigated by coupled GC-MS. Based on comparing the resultant mass spectra with available standards as well as with those delivered by the electronic data system attached to the apparatus and with reported data, many volatile components of the two species could be identified and compared. The oil of P. arabica is characterized by the presence of high percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and alcohols while that of P. undulata is rich in phenolic compounds and monoterpene hydrocarbons and comparatively low in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.