Composition of the Essential Oil of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels from Uttarakhand (India)

The essential oils from fresh, shade dried and oven dried leaves of Callistemon citrinus were separately hydrodistilled and analyzed by GC and GC-MS in order to determine the variation in occurrence of the constituents. The average yield obtained, ranged from 0.30 to 0.97% and the maximum yield recorded in oven dried leaves was (0.97 +/- 0.08%), followed by shade dried (0.52 +/- 0.03%) and fresh leaves (0.30 +/- 0.03%). Twenty compounds amounting 98.4-99.1% were identified in the oils. Among the essential oil constituents, the major component was identified as 1,8-cineole (87.2, 86.0 and 80.0% in shade dried, oven dried and fresh leaves, respectively). 1,8-Cineole is used for its aromatic properties and as an ingredient in pharmaceutical and industrial applications.