Bitter orange peel essential oil: A review of the different factors and chemical reactions influencing its composition

Abstract

AbstractThis review summarizes the findings and discusses the results on the different factors that can influence the bitter orange peel oil composition. Small changes in composition can result in noticeable modifications of the odour profile of the essential oil. The analysis method appears to have a crucial effect on the number of compounds identified in the essential oil. Growing location, cultivar, ripening stage, storage conditions and extraction methods are reported to impact the bitter orange essential oil. Bitter orange peel oil should be stored at −21°C to prevent changes in the composition and formation of artefacts when storing for a period of several months. The influence of cultivars should not be neglected, since a few cultivars differ a lot from the main cluster of Citrus aurantium L. The geranyl pyrophosphate forms most of the terpenes present in the bitter orange, especially limonene which is the majority compound, by the action of the terpene synthases during growing of the fruit. The extraction method can also be responsible for some differences in the composition due to the absence of water‐soluble compounds in cold‐pressed oils and to acid‐catalysed reactions in hydrodistilled oils such as the decomposition of the linalyl acetate forming many different terpene derivatives.