Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of Laurus nobilis essential oil composition of northern Cyprus.

The chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from the leaves of the Laurus nobilis plant (from the Northern Cyprus Mountains) by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Of the 81 compounds representing 98.74% of total oil, monocyclic monoterpenes such as 1,8-cineole (58.59%), alpha-terpinyl acetate (8.82%), and terpinene-4-ol (4.25%) were the main components. Bicyclic monoterpenes such as alpha- and beta- pinene (3.39-3.25%) and sabinene (3.32%) were also identified. The acyclic monoterpenes linalool (0.19%) and myrcenol (0.10%) were present in smaller amounts, and so were the sesquiterpenes. o-Cymene (1.30%) and p-cymene (1.83%) were the main, while cumin aldehyde (0.24%), dimethylstyrene (0.08%), eugenol (0.16%), methyl eugenol (0.05%), and carvacrol (0.05%) were found as minor, aromatic compounds of laurel oil.