Essential Oil Composition of<i>Myrtus communis</i>L. Under Different Storage Conditions

Abstract

:Changes of essential oil (EO) compositions of Myrtus communis were determined for a period of 3 months storage in refrigerator (4°C), freezer (-20°C), and at room temperature. The quantities of lower boiling temperature compounds such as α-pinene (30.8- 0.0 %), limonene (31.4- 0.1 %) and 1,8-cineole (22.3- 1.2 %) as α-terpinene precursors, were decreased at room temperature. However, the concentrations of α-terpineol and geranyl acetate considerably enhanced by 27 and 25 % after 3 months, respectively. Increasing of α-terpineol and geranyl acetate by storage at room temperature improve the oil quality index. Furthermore, when the oil stored at freezing temperature (-20°C.), represented its original quality at the extraction time with minimum changes.