Abstract
The essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Myrtus communis grown in the central part of Saudi Arabia was analyzed by gas chromatography-based techniques (GC-FID, GC-MS, Co-GC, LRI determination, database, and literature search) using polar as well as non-polar columns, which resulted in the identification of a total of sixty-five components accounting for 98.2% of the total oil composition. The oil composition was found to be dominated by monoterpene components accounting for 89.3% of oil composition. Sesquiterpenes (4.8%) and their oxygenated derivatives (3.5%) were present in lesser amounts. The major compounds of the oil were 1,8-cineole (26.5%), linalool (18.0%), -pinene (11.6%), -terpineol (8.9%), and limonene (4.0%). Other constituents which were present in appreciable amounts in this oil are trans-geraniol (3.9%), trans-geranyl acetate (3.9%), -terpenyl acetate (3.3%), linalyl acetate (2.9%), and -cadinene (2.7%).