Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 MSc. Student of Payame-e-Noor University, Abhar
2 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran
3 Molecular Research Lab, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
4 Payame Noor University, Abhar, Iran
Abstract
Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) is an evergreen shrub widely distributed in the Mediterranean area and Southern Europe. Laurus nobilis is widely found in north of Iran and other places and its cultivation has been common due to evergreen leaves and beautiful appearance. Due to the relationship between distillation time and oil yield and composition, doing research on optimum distillation time to obtain the best quality and quantity of essential oils with the lowest energy consumption has been always considered by scientists. In this study, the effect of different extraction times including 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 minutes on the essential oils content and composition of Laurus nobilis leaves was investigated. The leaves of laurus nobilis were collected in July 2009 from National Botanical Garden of Iran in Tehran, and dried in shade. The essential oil of leaves was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The leaf oil yield based on dry weight in 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 minutes were respectively 1.35%, 1.92%, 1.97%, 2%, 2.37%, 2.49%, 2.58% and 2.60%. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in oil yield of 90, 105 and 120 minutes extraction times. According to the results, with a view to quantity, 90 minutes was identified as the best extraction time for essential oil extraction in laurus nobilis. 1, 8-cineole and sabinene were identified as the major components of the leaf oil respectively within 15 minutes and after 45 minutes. α-terpinyl acetate remained constant in all extraction times.
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