Volatile constituents of Turkish bergamot oil

Abstract

The analysis of bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau) oil of Turkish origin was carried out by capillary GC and GC/MS. Forty-nine compounds, constituting 99.4% of the oil, were identified. The composition of the Turkish bergamot oil was compared with the Italian bergamot oil. They could be differentiated from their sesquiterpenes, carbonyl compounds, hydrocarbons and monoterpenes. The main components of the Turkish bergamot oil were linalyl acetate (38.7%), limonene (23.7%), linalool (14.7%), gamma-terpinene (4.7%), beta-pinene (3.0%) and myrcene (2.0%). The bergamot oil yield was about 1.2% for fresh bergamot rinds.