Evaluation of Leaf, Flower and Peel Bitter Orange Essential Oils and their Constituents in Response to Various Planting Locations of Egypt

Abstract

Bitter orange essential oils have biological characteristics that make them suitable for many purposes, the most important of which are food, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. Cultivation of bitter oranges in different locations leads to change in the essential oil compositions, and thus their biological effects. Leaves, flowers and fruit peels of bitter orange were collected from three locations of Egypt (north, midst and south); essential oils were isolated and analyzed. Results were statistically analyzed according to ANOVA-1. The maximum contents of essential oils were recorded with samples collected from south location. The major component of leaf (33.9–41.9%) and flower (47.2–51.5%) essential oils was linalool; while, the main component of peel essential oil (70.5–74.7%) was limonene. Detected components of various parts noteworthy the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in leaf and peel essential oils which was completely omitted in flower essential oil. Oxygenated monoterpenes was the main fraction in leaf and flower essential oils; but monoterpene hydrocarbon was the major fraction in peel essential oil. Samples collected from south location resulted in the maximum values of major component from leaf (41.9%) and flower (51.5%) essential oils; while those harvested from north one produced the greatest amount of main component of peel essential oil (74.7%). Fractions of essential oil were varied due to different locations. This study concluded that it is possible in the future to expand the cultivation of Bitter orange at new reclamation sites of Egypt to increase the sources of natural essential oils; also this trial serves as a reference for selecting the suitable location to produce bitter orange essential oils because of the target compounds.