Essential Oil Composition of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Elaeagnus orientalis from Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

Abstract

Background & Aim: <em>Elaeagnus angustifolia </em>and <em>Elaeagnus </em><em>orientalis </em>have a lot of medical utilization. In folk medicine, the fruit and flower of these plants are used as a tonic and antipyretic agent. The aim of the present study was to chemical analysis of volatile constituents of <em>E. angustifolia </em>and <em>E. </em><em>orientalis</em> flowers. Experimental: The essential oils of <em>E. angustifolia </em>and <em>E. </em><em>orientalis</em> flowers collected from Zahedan in Sistan and Baluchestan province were obtained by hydro-distillation. Chemical composition of oils were determined by GC/MS. Results & Discussion: 12 compounds representing 100% were identified in the essential oil of <em>E. angustifolia </em>flowers in which Ethyl cinnamate (73.24%(, Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, ethenyl ester (6.94%(, Isobutyl cinnamate (4.74%), Palmitic acid (4.39%), Buthyl cinnamate (2.38%), Ethanol (2.24%) and Methyl 9,9- Dideutero- Octadecanoate (2.05%( were the major constituents. In the essential oil of <em>E. </em><em>orientalis</em> flowers twelve constituents representing 100% were identified in which Ethyl cinnamate (84.80 %(, Ethanol (7.86%), Tetra hydrogeranyl acetone (2.18%) and Phenantrenol (1.26%) were the major ones. The results showed that there are some differences and similarities between the oil compositions of <em>Elaeagnus</em> species growing in the same weather conditions. Although the main component of the essential oils of <em>Elaeagnus</em>species was Ethyl cinnamate, but its relative content was higher in the oil of <em>E. </em><em>orientalis</em><em>.</em> The percentage of Ethanol in the oil of <em>Elaeagnus</em>species also was less than 10%. Moreover, although the Isobutyl cinnamate, Buthyl cinnamate and Methyl 9, 9- Dideutero- Octadecanoate compounds were the main component of the essential oil of <em>E. angustifolia</em> flowers, but these compounds were not identified in the essential oil of <em>E. </em><em>orientalis.</em> Industrial and practical recommendations: The results of the present study showed that the <em>E. angustifolia </em>and <em>E. </em><em>orientalis </em>flower oils can be utilized as cheap commercially sources to isolation Ethyl cinnamate. In addition, extraction of the identified components can be useful for medicinal uses.