Yield and chemical composition of essential oil from <i>Melaleuca alternifolia</i> Chell grown in Federal District, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of circadian variation and plant part in yield and chemical composition of essential oil from Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel. Leaves and entire bush were collected in the morning and afternoon. Afterwards, the extraction was conducted using the steam distillation method. Chemical analysis for identification and quantification of compound was run using gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. According to the results, for yield the afternoon period was considered the most suitable period for oil extraction (0.48% vs 0.34%) using only leaves (0.47% vs 0.36%). On the other hand, for the chemical composition no difference was detected between day period and plant part.