Characteristics of fatty acids and essential oil from sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. var. dulce) and bitter fennel fruits (F-vulgare Mill. var. vulgare) growing in Turkey

Cosge B., Kiralan M., Guerbuez B.

NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH, vol.22, no.12, pp.1011-1016, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 22 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/14786410801980675
  • Journal Name: NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1011-1016
  • Keywords: fennel, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., petrocelinic acid, trans-Anethole, fenchone
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Oil content in sweet and bitter fennels was obtained 12.22% and 14.41%, respectively. The C(18:1 c6), C(18:2), C(18:1 c9) and C(16:0) acids corresponding to similar to 97% of total oil was recorded as principal fatty acids. The ratios of essential oil from sweet and bitter fennels were found similar (average 3.00%). trans-Anethole, estragole and fenchone were found to be the main constituents in both fennels. The compound with the highest value in the two oil samples was trans-anethole as 95.25% (sweet) and 75.13% (bitter). While estragole was found in bitter fennel oil in a remarkable amount (15.51%), sweet fennel oil contained small amounts of estragole (2.87%). Fenchone was found < 1% in sweet and similar to 5% in bitter fennel. p-Anisaldehyde in bitter fennel essential oil, and alpha-pinene and gamma-terpinene in sweet fennel essential oil were not recorded, and these compounds were found very low or < 1%.