Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate impact of light and available oxygen on the chemical composition of three selected essential oils. Aliquots of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), silver fir (Abies alba) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) essential oils were exposed to UV-A irradiation in the presence of atmospheric oxygen as well as in the presence of inert gas. The compositions of fresh and irradiated samples were studied by GC/MS. Each oil showed an individual response to the applied conditions. In immortelle oil, dominant process was phototransformation of g-curcumene to italicene, isoitalicene and ?-curcumene. Since g-curcumene is one of the major components of immortelle essential oil, exposure of this oil to light can cause significant changes in primary composition and thus quality. In silver fir and prickly juniper oil irradiation caused only slight changes among sesquiterpenes that are present as minor components. Both oils were found to be photostabile and insensitive to the presence of atmospheric oxygen.
Highlights
Phytochemicals have long history of usage in nutrition, medicine and cosmetics due to the wide range of beneficial properties they possess
Aliquots of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), silver fir (Abies alba) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) essential oils were exposed to UV-A irradiation in the presence of atmospheric oxygen as well as in the presence of inert gas
Irradiation causes the transformation of γ-curcumene mostly to italicene and isoitalicene as a result of [2+2]-photocycloaddition and to the α-curcumene via dehydrogenation/aromatization (Scheme 1, Table 1)
Summary
Phytochemicals have long history of usage in nutrition, medicine and cosmetics due to the wide range of beneficial properties they possess. The interest in phytochemicals is continuously growing, whether for healthy food, natural pharmaceuticals or personal care and household products. This can be attributed to the consumer’s increased awareness regarding the “green” products and an overall greater health consciousness. An important class of natural products in food and cosmetics industries as well as in folk medicine are essential oils. Usages of essential oils overcame the traditional medicinal practices and nowadays they are widely applied in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries.[1,2,3] Such various areas of essential oils application result from the differences in their chemical composition which range from very simple to highly complex, containing more than 100 constituents. Terpenes well known for their pharmacological properties, serve as lead compounds in synthesis of derivatives that might possess improved biological activity.[4,5]
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