Changes in chemical composition of the essential oil of Chios “mastic resin” from Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia tree during solidification and storage

Abstract

Mastic resin, is produced traditionally by hurting the trunk of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia which is a self planted tree on the island of Chios, Greece. A new method of harvesting the mastic resin in a fluid form has been recently developed. This fluid product contains 13.5% (v/w) of essential oil in contrast to the traditionally air dried product which contains only 2.8%. Samples of traditionally collected resin in a solid form, at harvest and after 3 years storage, as well as of resin harvested by the new method in a fluid form at harvest and in a semi-fluid form after six months storage, were evaluated for the quality of their essential oil. The myrcene content of essential oil from fluid and solid resin at harvest was found to be 75% and 30.9% respectively, while that of α-pinene 16.8% and 51%. A decrease in myrcene and increase in α-pinene content is the major change observed in oil composition during storage of both samples. The ratio of myrcene to α-pinene content could be used as an index of essential oil origin from either fluid or solid mastic resin and also as an indication of storage time.