Planta Med 2008; 74 - PI60
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084966

Chemical analysis of high quality rose oil, rose water and rose vinegar from Greece using enantiomeric gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

P Magiatis 1, S Paraschos 1, E Melliou 1, G Kasapidis 1, AL Skaltsounis 1
  • 1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, GR 15771, Athens, Greece

Rose, (Rosa damascena Mill.) has been cultivated systematically, for the first time in Greece, during the last 4 years, for the production of rose oil, one of the most expensive essential oils widely used in perfume industry and cosmetology. Roses were cultivated in two areas of Kozani prefecture (West Macedonia, Greece) and the flowers were separated manually from the aerial parts and were hydrodistilled for 3 hours within 6 hours after their collection. The rose oil yield was up to 0.045%. The obtained rose oil was analyzed using GCMS first with a DB-5 column and then with an enantiomeric column b-Dex sm. The main constituent of rose oil was found to be (-)-citronellol with optical purity >99.9%. The high quality rose oil is characterized by the ratio (citronellol+nerol)/geraniol, which must be between 1.2 and 1.3 [1]. In the studied sample the ratio was found to be 1.23. The proportion of phenylethanol, another characteristic value, was 0.97% in the studied sample, while in Bulgarian rose oil it is <0.1% [2]. Rose oil was also obtained after treatment of rose water with NaCl and pentane, according to Greek Pharmacopoeia III [3]. After GCMS analysis of this rose oil, phenylethanol, which is partially soluble to water, was found to be the major compound (31.4%). Rose water and rose vinegar, another product acquired by roses after fermentation of the petals, were treated with XAD4 resin, and the adsorbed compounds were desorbed using diethylether. In both cases, GCMS analysis showed that phenylethanol was again the major compound (86.5% and 52.3% respectively). The superior yield of the rose oil as well as its high quality confirmed the observation of the ancient historian Herodotus about the excellent odor of the roses of Kozani and supports the further exploitation of the rose cultivation in western Macedonia (Greece).

References: 1. Baser, K.H.C (1992) Perfum. Flavor 17:45–52

2. Kovats, E. (1987)J. Chromatogr. 406: 185–222

3. Kritikos, P. et al (1974) Greek Pharmacopoeia, Edition III. Ministry of Social Services. Athens