The essential oil composition of Melaleuca leucadendra L. grown in India: A novel source of (E)-nerolidol

•Essential oil of Melaleuca leucadendra L. grown in India was assessed for new composition.•Essential oil content reported was 1.20% in leaves, 0.70% in twigs and 0.75% in flowers.•High content of (E)-nerolidol (upto 90.85%) is reported for the first time in this plant.•This plant has the industrial potential as a natural source of (E)-nerolidol.

The essential oils of leaves, twigs and flowers of Melaleuca leucadendra L. grown in foothills of northern India were analyzed using GC–FID, GC–MS, and 1H and 13C NMR. Thirty-seven constituents were identified constituting 94.28–98.84% of the total essential oil compositions. The essential oils were composed of mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenes (81.23–93.50%), followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (1.84–11.41%). The main constituent of essential oils was (E)-nerolidol (76.58–90.85%) which is reputed as a high value aroma chemical in food-flavor, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Other major constituents of the essential oils were β-caryophyllene (1.52–4.49%), viridiflorol (0.19–2.79%), (E)-β-farnesene (≤0.10–2.67%), and α-humulene (0.22–1.03%). Comparison of the results with earlier reports revealed notable qualitative and quantitative variations in essential oil composition of M. leucadendra. Moreover, the examined essential oil of M. leucadendra may be considered as a novel source of (E)-nerolidol for commercial utilization for natural derived flavor, perfumery and pharmaceutical preparations.

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