Chemical composition of essential oil from Lippia citriodora H.B.K. of Iran

The genus Lippia (Verbenaceae) includes approximately 200 species of herbs, shrubs and small trees. Most of them are traditionally utilized as remedies for gastrointestinal and respiratory problems. Some species have shown antimalarial, antiviral and cytostatic properties. It is believed that their essential oils and phenolic compounds (flavonoids) are responsible for these properties. One of these species Lippia citriodora H.B.K. mainly used as a spice and medicinal plant. It grows spontaneously in South America and is cultivated in different regions of the world [1, 2, 3]. The aerial parts of L. citriodora grown at Karaj in the north-west part of Iran were hydrodistilled for 3 hours, using a Clevenger-type apparatus to yield 0.8% (w/w) of orange yellow oil. The essential oil was dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and stored in a sealed vial at +4°C until analysis. The oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The constituents of the essential oil were identified by comparison of their mass spectra and retention indices (RI) with those given in the literature and authentic samples [4]. Forty compounds were characterized in the essential oil of L. citriodora , representing 96.17% of the oil, of which caryophyllene oxide (13.6) ,1,8-cineole (12.5%), nerol (5.54) were found to be the major components. Acknowledgement: The authors acknowledge the financial contribution from the Research and Technology Deputy of ACECR (Academic Centre for Education Culture & Research) for supporting this research. References: [1] Argyropoulou, C., et al. (2007) Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 35:831–837. [2] Valentão, P. et al. (2001)J. Agric. Food Chem. 47:4579–4582. [3] Pascual, E. et al. (1999). J. Ethnopharmacol. 76:201–214. [4] Adams, R.P. (2001) Identification of Essential oil Components by Gas Chromatography/Quadrupole Mass spectroscopy. Allured Publishing Crop. Carol stream, IL.