Volatile Constituents of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) Peel Oil from Burundi

Abstract

The essential oil constituents of mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) grown in Burundi were extracted by coldpressing method and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Fifty-eight constituents, amounting to 97.2% of the total volatiles were identified. Monoterpene hydrocarbons accounted for the most abundant chemical group (94.7%). Limonene was the most prominent constituent (84.8%), followed by γ-terpinene (5.4%), myrcene (2.2%) and α-pinene (1.1%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons accounted for a minor quantity (0.2%), where germacrene D and valencene were the main constituents. Oxygenated compounds of various chemical groups constituted 2.3%. Aliphatic aldehydes (0.7%) and terpene alcohols (0.7%) were the major chemical groups. The main constituents were linalool (0.7%), octanal (0.5%) and decanal (0.2%). Octyl acetate, α-sinensal, decanol and perillaldehyde occurred at 0.1% levels. Thymol, α-sinensal, methyl thymol, and the acetate esters, bornyl, α-terpinyl, geranyl, citronellyl and decyl acetates were detected, each at < 0.05%.