Variation in Essential Oil Content and Composition (Pimpinella anisum L.)

Abstract

The essential oils were isolated from dried Pimpinella anisum L. seeds by Cleavenger aperture extraction, and fractions were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 51 components were detected in aniseed. The components were mainly 19 sesquiterpenes (37.25 % ), ten monoterpene (19.60%) , tow diterpene (3.92%) and one hemiterpene (1.96 %). The major components identified in the essential oil of Pimpinella anisum was trans-Anethole or Anisole (71.52 %) , benzocycloheptene (6.59 %),and Isoeugenyl acetate ( 4.63 %). In addition  44 components were present at less than 1%.

Keywords: Pimpinella anisum, anise, essential oils, trans-Anethole, GC-MS.