Chemical constituents of Algerian mandarin (Citrus reticulata) essential oil by GC-MS and FT-IR analysis

Abstract Medicinal plants are potential sources of natural compounds with biological activities and therefore attract the attention of researchers worldwide. Citrus oils are a complex mixture of more than a hundred components of differing chemical natures. Qualitative and quantitative analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GCMS) of the Citrus reticulata essential oil collected from El Hadaïk, Skikda City (Algeria), identified 28 compounds representing a total of 99.41%. The essential oil is constituted mainly of: D-Limonene (85.10%), Sabinene (2.49%), Linalyl acetate (2.00%), Copaene (1.80%) et α-Pinene (1.75%) totaling approximately 93.14%. The essential oil was also analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR). FTIR spectroscopy allowed us to identify 10 volatile compounds and indicated that the functional groups of the essential oils are C-H (Alkene), C-H (aromatic) and C=C. The obtained results have shown that the essential oil can be fully utilized for pharmacy, cosmetology and industry.