Abstract
Background and aims: Humans always have been considered the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of diseases because of fearing the side effects of chemical drugs. The current study aimed to identify the essential oil of Myrtus communis L. collected from natural habitats province of Khuzestan and Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad.
Methods: In this experimental study, Myrtus communis L. was collected from Khuzestan and Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad in July 2015. Plant material was identified by Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. 50 gm of cleaned and dried plant material was powdered and pestle and placed in a round bottom flask fitted with condenser hydro distilled for 3hrs at atmospheric pressure and constant temperature. The strongly aromatic oil was separated from the water layer using n-Hexane and the solvent was removed by boiling. The component identification was achieved by the GC-MS analysis.Total GC running time was 75 min.
Results: Phytochemical analyses of the essential oil collected from samples were contains 31 combinations. Secondary compounds in essential oils were including: α-Pinene, 1,8-Cineole, Limonene, Linalool L, α-Terpineol, Linalyl acetate, Geranyl acetate. α-Pinene and 1,8-Cineole were highest percentage of compositions. α-Terpinene combination was only existed in Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad samples and Limonene combination was only existed in Khuzestan samples.
Conclusion: The α-Pinene and 1,8-Cineole are two dominant component in the essential oil of Myrtus communis L. in studied samples. Considering the effect of environmental factors on metabolites in medicinal plants identifying the metabolites in this medicinal and commercial plants will increase cost-effectiveness.