Volatiles From Leaves and Flowers of Borage (Borago officinalis L.)

The essential oils obtained from the fresh leaves and flowers of Borago officinalis collected in the region of Amdoun (northwestern Tunisia) were examined by GC and GUMS. Twenty-three volatile compounds were identified. The oil yields expressed on a dry weight basis were 0.1.4% and 0.24% for the leaves and flowers, respectively The main compound determined in flower and leaf oil was (E,E)-2,4-decadienal with 43.4% and 26.9% in the leaf and flower oils, respectively. The oils from the two organs showed the predominance of the aldehyde class which constituted 61.2% and 61.9% in the leaf and flower oils, respectively. Other classes present in important percentages in the two organs were alcohols (22.4%) in the leaf oil and phenols (13.2%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (12.2%) in the flower oil,