FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL

Flavour Fragr. J. 2000; 15: 105±107

Volatile flower oils of three genotypes of rose-scented

geranium (Pelargonium sp.)
B. R. Rajeswara Rao,1* K. P. Sastry,2 S. M. Saleem,2 E. V. S. Prakasa Rao,3 K. V. Syamasundar3
and S. Ramesh3
1
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) Field Station (FS), Boduppal, Hyderabad 500 039, India
2CIMAP FS, Kodaikanal 624 101, India
3
CIMAP FS, GKVK (PO), Bangalore 560 065, India

Received 4 June 1999

Revised 10 November 1999
Accepted 10 November 1999

ABSTRACT: The volatile ¯ower oils of three genotypes of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.)
commercially cultivated at a high altitude (2200 m above MSL) location (Kodaikanal) in India were investigated
by GC and GC±MS. Freshly collected ¯owers of genotypes 1, 2 and 3 on distillation produced oil yields of
0.32%, 0.34% and 0.50%, respectively. The ¯ower oil of genotype 1 was richer in a-pinene (1.7%), (Z) and (E)-
rose oxides (1.3% and 0.6%), isomenthone (6.8%), citronellol (43.8%), citronellyl formate (20.4%), citronellyl
acetate (1.0%), b-caryophyllene (2.6%), citronellyl butyrate (2.1%) and citronellyl tiglate (1.9%). The ¯ower oil
of genotype 2 was richer in terpinen-4-ol (1.3%), geranyl formate (3.6%), b-bourbonene (1.2%), a-muurolene
(1.3%), geranyl isovalerate (0.9%), 10-epi-g-eudesmol (4.6%) and geranyl tiglate (2.9%). The ¯ower oil of
genotype 3 was richer in linalol (7.6%), geraniol (38.6%), geranyl acetate ‡ geranic acid (5.2%), b-phenylethyl
butyrate (4.6%), 6,9-guaiadiene (2.3%) and a-humulene (1.5%). Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

KEY WORDS: Pelargonium species; rose-scented geranium; genotypes; ¯ower oil; linalol; citronellol; geraniol

Introduction geraniol)4 is commercially cultivated in high altitude

The herb oils of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium
species, family: Geraniaceae) grown in di€erent
countries were extensively investigated.1 In our experi-
ments, we found that essential oils isolated from
di€erent plant parts, namely petioles, leaves and tender
stems of rose-scented geranium exhibited variations in
their pro®les.2 In India, rose-scented geranium crop
¯owers profusely in high altitude areas, but sparsely in
plains. Flowers were reported to contain more oil than
leaves or tender stems.3 However, the composition of
the ¯ower oil has not been examined previously. In this
study, we investigated the pro®les of ¯ower oils of three
genotypes of rose-scented geranium grown in India.
Experimental
Genotypes
Three genotypes are cultivated in India. Genotype 1,
popularly called `Algerian', with an oil composition
similar to Chinese oil (high citronellol and low
* Correspondence to: B. R. Rajeswara Rao, Central Institute of Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) Field Station (FS), Boduppal, Hyderabad 500 039,
India.
areas5 and has been recently recommended for
cultivation in North India.6 Genotype 2, known as
`Bourbon', with an oil composition identical to the
African type,7 is commercially cultivated in the plains
of South India. Genotype 3, referred as `Kelkar' or
`Egyptian', which yields an oil rich in geraniol, but poor
in citronellol,4 is under experimental cultivation. The
names of the genotypes are the local names followed in
India and do not correspond to the names followed in
international literature. For example, the international
`Bourbon' oil is rich in 6,9-guaiadiene, but contains low
amounts of 10-epi-g-eudesmol. In contrast, the Indian
`Bourbon' oil contains a higher percentage of 10-epi-g-
eudesmol than 6,9-guaiadiene. To avoid confusion,
these genotypes have been renamed as Hemanti
(genotype 1, or `Algerian'), Bipuli (genotype 2 or
`Bourbon') and Kunti (genotype 3, or `Kelkar'). Large
amounts (in metric tonnes) of the oils of genotypes 1
and 2 are commercially traded in India, while the oil of
genotype 3 is traded in small quantities.
Isolation of Essential Oils
The three genotypes of rose-scented geranium were
raised following standard agricultural practices8 in the

Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

106 B. R. RAJESWARA RAO ET AL.

Table 1. Percentage composition of flower oils of three genotypes of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.)
Compound RRI* Area (%) Method of
identi®cation
Genotype 1 Genotype 2 Genotype 3
a-Pinene 935 1.7 0.6 0.1 a,b,c,d
Sabinene 969 ± 0.1 0.1 a,b,c,d
Myrcene 985 0.2 0.2 0.2 a,b,c,d
a-Phellandrene 997 0.4 0.1 0.3 a,b,c,d
p-Cymene 1013 0.2 0.1 0.1 a,b,c,d
Limonene 1024 0.3 0.2 0.2 a,b,d
(Z)-b-Ocimene 1028 0.2 0.1 0.1 a,b,c,d
(E)-b-Ocimene 1040 0.1 0.1 0.1 a,b,d
cis-Linalol oxide ( furanoid) 1063 ± 0.3 0.1 a,b,d
trans-Linalol oxide ( furanoid) 1076 ± 0.1 0.1 a,b,d
Linalol 1088 1.1 5.5 7.6 a,b,c,d
(Z)-Rose oxide 1097 1.3 0.6 0.2 a,b,d
(E)-Rose oxide 1116 0.6 0.3 0.1 a,b,d
Menthone 1136 0.1 0.1 0.2 a,b,d
Isomenthone 1147 6.8 4.6 5.3 a,b,d
Terpinen-4-ol 1165 ± 1.3 ± a,b,d
a-Terpineol 1176 0.3 0.3 0.5 a,b,c,d
Citronellol 1215 43.8 27.5 15.2 a,b,c,d
Geraniol 1242 1.7 22.7 38.6 a,b,c,d
Geranial 1248 0.7 0.8 0.4 a,b,c,d
Citronellyl formate 1261 20.4 9.9 0.6 a,b,c,d
Geranyl formate 1284 0.3 3.6 0.4 a,b,d
Citronellyl acetate 1337 1.0 0.2 ± a,b,c,d
Geranyl acetate ‡ geranic acid 1362 0.1 0.6 5.2 a,b,c,d
a-Ylangene 1370 ± 0.1 0.2 a,b,d
a-Copaene 1380 0.1 0.3 0.2 a,b,d
b-Bourbonene 1386 0.4 1.2 0.3 a,b,c,d
b-Phenylethyl butyrate 1405 ± ± 4.6 a,b,d
b-Caryophyllene 1422 2.6 0.9 0.7 a,b,c,d
6,9-Guaiadiene 1444 1.5 0.1 2.3 a,b,c,d
a-Humulene 1455 0.4 0.6 1.5 a,b,d
Germacrene D 1481 0.2 0.3 0.1 a,b,d
a-Selinene 1486 0.1 0.2 ± a,b,d
a-Muurolene 1495 0.4 1.3 0.6 a,b,d
Citronellyl butyrate 1503 2.1 0.4 0.2 a,b,d
Geranyl butyrate 1534 0.2 0.2 0.5 a,b,c,d
2-Phenylethyl tiglate 1555 0.7 0.7 0.5 a,b,d
Geranyl isovalerate 1583 0.1 0.9 0.3 a,b,d
10-epi-g-Eudesmol 1617 2.0 4.6 2.5 a,b,d
Geranyl valerate 1629 0.2 0.2 0.6 a,b,d
Citronellyl tiglate 1645 1.9 0.2 1.1 a,b,d
Geranyl tiglate 1675 0.2 2.9 2.6 a,b,d

RRI ˆ relative retention index (KovaÂts) on BP-1 column.

a ˆ retention time; b ˆ relative retention index; c ˆ peak enrichment; d ˆ mass spectra.

Experimental Farm of the Central Institute of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Field Station, Kodai-
kanal. Flowers were collected separately from the three
genotypes in February 1999, when the plants were
ready for harvest. Duplicate samples (500 g each), were
hydrodistilled in a Clevenger-type glass apparatus for
3 h for collection of essential oil. The oil samples were
collected and their volumes measured before drying
over anhydrous sodium sulphate. These oil samples
were stored in air-tight containers at 08C for GC or
GC±MS analyses.
®tted with ¯ame ionization detector (FID), GP-100
printer-plotter and an electronic integrator, using a
bonded phase fused silica capillary column (BP-1,
25 m  0.5 mm i.d., ®lm thickness 0.25 mm), coated
with polydimethylsiloxane. Nitrogen was employed as
the carrier gas at 40 ml/min ¯ow rate and 10 psi inlet
pressure. The temperature was programmed at 60±
2208C at 58C/min, with a ®nal hold time of 10 min. The
injector and detector were maintained at 2508C and
3008C, respectively. The samples (0.1±0.2 ml) were
injected neat with 1 : 80 split ratio.

GC Analyses GC±MS Analyses

GC analyses of the oil samples were carried out on GC±MS analyses of the oil samples were performed on
a Perkin-Elmer gas chromatograph (Model 8500) Hewlett-Packard 5890 gas chromatograph interfaced

Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Flavour Fragr. J. 2000; 15: 105±107

with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, 5970 MSA, using
a fused silica ultra-performance cross-linked methyl
silicone column (HP-1, 50 m  0.2 mm  0.25 mm).
Temperature programming was 100±2808C at 48C/
min. The carrier gas was helium at 1 ml/min ¯ow rate.
Mass spectra were recorded over 40±400 amu range at
1 scan/s with ionization energy 70 eV and ion source
temperature 2508C.
Identification of Compounds
Essential oil components were identi®ed by comparing
the retention times of the peaks with those of reference
compounds run under identical conditions, relative
retention indices (RRI) (KovaÂts) of the peaks deter-
mined with references to a saturated alkane mixture
(C8 ±C23) in comparison with those reported in litera-
ture,9±11 comparing the mass spectra of the peaks with
those of standard compounds reported in literature,11,12
and by peak enrichment on co-injection with authentic
compounds. Peak areas and retention times were
measured by the electronic integrator. The relative
percentage of the individual constituents are based on
the peak area percentages without FID response factor
correction.
Results and Discussion
The oil yields of ¯owers of the three genotypes were:
genotype 1, 0.32%; genotype 2, 0.34%; genotype 3,
0.50%. The ¯owers gave a higher yield of oils than the
shoot biomass of these three genotypes,4 con®rming the
observations of Fleisher and Fleisher.3 Among the
three, genotype 3 was superior to others for oil yield.
The pro®les of the ¯ower oils of the three genotypes
are presented in Table 1. The ¯ower oil of genotype 1
was richer in a-pinene, rose oxides, isomethone,
Copyright # 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
VOLATILE OILS OF PELARGONIUM SP. 107
citronellol, citronellyl formate, citronellyl acetate,
b-caryophyllene, citronellyl butyrate and citronellyl
tiglate. The ¯ower oil of genotype 2 had higher
concentrations of terpinen-4-ol, geranyl formate, b-
bourbonene, a-muurolene, geranyl isovalerate, 10-epi-
g-eudesmol and geranyl tiglate. The ¯ower oil of
genotype 3 possessed greater percentages of linalol,
geraniol, geranyl acetate ‡ geranic acid, b-phenylethyl
butyrate, 6,9-guaiadiene and a-humulene. The varia-
tion in the composition of the ¯ower oils of the three
genotypes was similar to their herb oils;4 however, the
relative percentages of the compounds in ¯ower and
herb oils di€ered.
Acknowledgements Ð The authors are grateful to the Director,
CIMAP, Lucknow, and the Scientist-in-Charge, CIMAP Field
Station, Hyderabad, for facilities and encouragement.
References
1. B. M. Lawrence, Perfum Flav 1984; 9: 88. 1985; 10: 1. 1988; 13:
65. 1992; 17: 46. 1992; 17: 59.
2. G. R. Mallavarapu, BR Rajeswara Rao, P. N. Kaul and S.
Ramesh, J Med Arom Plant Sci, 19, 1020 (1997).
3. A. Fleisher and Z. Fleisher, J Sci Food Agric, 36, 1047 (1985).
4. P. N. Kaul, B. R. Rajeswara Rao, A. K. Bhattacharya, C. P.
Singh and K. Singh, PAFAI J, 17(4), 21 (1995).
5. A. Y. Swamy, N. J. Sreshta and S. Kalyanasundaram, Indian
Perfum, 4, 3 (1960).
6. M. Ram, M. M. Gupta, A. A. Naqvi and S. Kumar, Curr Res
Med Arom Plant, 17, 17 (1995).
7. A. K. Bhattacharya, P. N. Kaul, B. R. Rajeswara Rao, S. Ramesh
and G. R. Mallavarapu, J Essent Oil Res, 5, 229 (1993).
8. B. R. Rajeswara Rao, E. V. S. Prakasa Rao and M. R. Narayana,
Indian Hortic, 36(2), 14 (1989).
9. N. W. Davies, J Chromatogr, 503, 1 (1990).
10. D. Fraisse, C. Scharf, G. Vernin and J. Metzger, IX International
Essential Oil Congress, Singapore, Book 3, pp. 100±120 (1983).
11. W. Jennings and T. Shibamoto, Qualitative Analysis of Flavor and
Fragrance Volatiles by Glass Capillary Gas Chromatography,
Academic Press, New York (1980).
12. R. P. Adams, Identi®cation of Essential Oil Components by Gas
Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, Allured Publishing
Corp., Carol Stream, IL (1995).
Flavour Fragr. J. 2000; 15: 105±107