Study of the Chemical Content of Extracted Essential oil from the Plant Arbutus andrachne L. Using GC/MS in Syria

Abstract

The essential oil was extracted from the leaves of the plant Arbutus andrachne Lwhich were collected in Baniyas location in Tartous in syria by steam distillaton using clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry GC/MS. Arbutus andrachne L. is among the two species of Arbutus genus which belongs to the family Ericaceae. Arbutus andrachne L. is a plant that grows naturally in Syria, this species has medical, environmental, nutritional and ornamental importance. The analysis results showed that the essential oil contains 61compounds, the com pounds in the essential oil extracted from the leaves of this plant vary between hydrocarbon, oxygen, nitrogenous compounds and other chemical compounds. Chemical compounds were identified, representing 99.7% of the total essential oil of the leaves sample, The main compounds and their respective percentages were as follows: Phytol (19.9%), Decane, 5,6-bis (2,2-dimethylpropylidene)-, (E,Z)-(13,6%), 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl octyl ester (6.8%), and Heptacosane (5.3%) while the percentages of compounds ranged from (0.1% to 4.8%). The difference between the results of our study and previous studies is attributed tothe difference in geographical characteristics and climatic conditions. This is first research in Syria on extracting essential oil from the leaves of the plant Arbutus andrachne L.