Composition of the essential oil of leaves and berries of Algerian myrtle (Myrtus communisL.)

Myrtus communis L. essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and the yields were 0.3% (w/w) and 0.1% for leaves and berries, respectively. Using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectometry (GC/MS), 25 components were identified in berry oil representing 89.5% of the oil composition. Linalool was the major compound in berry oil (36.2%) followed by estragole (18.4%) and 1,8-cineole (11.4%). Leaf oil was composed of 28 compounds representing 95.4% of the total composition of the oil. α-pinene was the major constituent of leaf oil at a concentration of (46.9%), followed by 1,8-cineole (25.2%). The two Algerian oils were characterized by the lack of myrtenyl acetate.