Determinación de las propiedades físicas, composición química y distribución enantiomérica del aceite esencial de Melaleuca ericifolia

Abstract

Abstract: Melaleuca ericifolia is a type of tree used medicinally for its antibacterial activity. This species is native to southern Australia and distributed in South America. Essential oil can be extracted from its leaves, which can be used in the cosmetic and aroma industry. In the present investigation, the physical properties, chemical composition and enantiomeric distribution of the essential oil of Melaleuca ericifolia were determined. The physical properties were determined using different AFNOR standards. The essential oil presented a density of 0.9221 g/cm3 (pycnometry), a refractive index of 1.4650 (refractometer) and an optical activity of 3.78 ° (polarimeter). The chemical composition and enantiomeric distribution of the essential oil were established through the analytical technique of gas chromatography. The majority compounds were: 1,8-cineole (61.85%), limonene (11.23%), α-terpineol (7.99%), α-pinene (4.97%), β-pinene (3.71%), ρ-cymene (1.11%), terpinen-4-ol (1.02%) and myrcene (0.91%). Eight pairs of enantiomers were identified in the essential oil of Melaleuca ericifolia, of which (-)-α-pinene occurred as a practically pure compound (97.09%)