The effects of storage temperature and duration on essential oil content and composition oil rose (Rosa damascena Mill.).

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of different storage temperatures (0 o C and 3 o C) and durations (7, 14, 21 and 28 days) on oil yield and essential oil components of oil rose (Rosa damascena Mill.). In this study, the rose oils were obtained by hydro-distillation in Clevenger-type apparatus and the components in the rose oil were analyzed by GC-MS. It was determined that the effect of storage temperatures on oil content wasn’ t significant whereas the effect of storage duration was significant (p�0.01). The highest essential oil content was obtained at 0.043% from the petals distilled immediately after the harvest while the lowest oil content was obtained at 0.022% from the petals stored at both temperatures for 28 days, respectively. The rate of citronellol, one of the main components of rose oil, was 25.34% in the petals distilled immediately whereas it varied from 41.07 to 72.52% in the petals stored at 0 o C and 3 o C for 28 days. The rates of nerol and geraniol in the petals distilled immediately were 14.30% and 33.02%, respectively whereas they are 2.68%, the trace amount, and range between 0.43 and 6.74% in the stored petals, respectively. The rates of hexadecane, nonadecane, eicosane and methyl eugenol in the petals distilled immediately were determined to be lower than those of the stored petals. The optimal results in terms of its oil content and components were obtained from the rose petals distilled immediately after the harvest as well as from the petals stored at 0 o C for 7 days.