Analysis of diurnal and seasonal variation of B-Citronellol and citronellyl pentanoate in the essential oil of pycnocycla spinosa decne

ABSTRACT

Anti Pycnocycla spinosa var. Spinosa aerial parts were collected at different times of the day, and weekly for two growing seasons [May- September]. Uniformly dried samples were hydrodistilled and analyzed for essential oil content of B-citronellol and citronellyl pentanoate. The results showed that the content of beta citronellol in the essential oil of the aerial part in different season varied 1.0-10.7%, and of citronellyl pentanoate did 0.0- 18.6. Plant harversted between 700 a.m. and 700 p.m. provided essential oil with high beta-citronellol and citronellyl pentanoate, 8.1 and 18.2% respectively. Data obtained from seasonal study showed that the best time to obtain beta-citronellol and citronellol pentanoate is end of the spring and summer