“Characterization of Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citriodora Palau) from Argentine by the Essential Oil”

P. DI LEO LIRA, C.M. VAN BAREN, D. RETTA, A.L.BANDONI.A. GIL, M. GATTUSO, S. GATTUSO

JOURNAL OF ESSENTIAL OIL RESEARCH

Año: 2008 vol. 20 p. 350 - 353

1041-2905

The oils of twenty-three samples of Aloysia citriodora from the most important growing areas in our country have been analyzed using GC/FID/MS. Characterization of the oil compositions revealed chemical markers which can be used to define the quality of a typical Argentine lemon verbena. In addition to the normal neral (20.0%) and geranial (29.0%) rich oils, two unusual oil compositions were detected: one with high contents of limonene (40.3%) and citronellal (21.6%), the other rich in a-thujone (73.4%). These specifications can be used for the standardization of this plant, defining the best available quality of leaves and volatile fractions of argentine lemon verbena, and discriminating from potentially toxic materials and adulterants.