Bitter orange peel essential oil: A review of the different factors and chemical reactions influencing its composition

Abstract

This review summarizes the findings and discusses the results on the different factors that can influence the bitter orange peel oil composition. Small changes in composition can result in noticeable modifications of the odour profile of the essential oil. The analysis method appears to have a crucial effect on the number of compounds identified in the essential oil. Growing location, cultivar, ripening stage, storage conditions and extraction methods are reported to impact the bitter orange essential oil. Bitter orange peel oil should be stored at −21°C to prevent changes in the composition and formation of artefacts when storing for a period of several months. The influence of cultivars should not be neglected, since a few cultivars differ a lot from the main cluster of Citrus aurantium L. The geranyl pyrophosphate forms most of the terpenes present in the bitter orange, especially limonene which is the majority compound, by the action of the terpene synthases during growing of the fruit. The extraction method can also be responsible for some differences in the composition due to the absence of water‐soluble compounds in cold‐pressed oils and to acid‐catalysed reactions in hydrodistilled oils such as the decomposition of the linalyl acetate forming many different terpene derivatives.

Intercultivar Diversity of Sour Orange (Citrus aurantium L.) Based on Genetic Markers, Phenotypic Characteristics, Aromatic Compounds and Sensorial Analysis

“…LEO is mainly composed of oxygenated monoterpenes with lower amounts of hydrocarbon monoterpenes and a few sesquiterpenes [29,30]. Many factors can modify the sour orange PEO composition, such as cultivars (genetic variability), geographic origins, fruit development stages, storage conditions and extraction methods [31]. The results of all studies agreed with the very low chemical variability detected among sour orange cultivars [8,17].…”

Evaluation of Influencing Factors and Technological Processes for the Production of Orange Essential Oil (<i>Citrus sinensis</i>) on Equipment Semi-industrial Distillation

“…Essential oils are the very small, quintessential, most concentrated drops of herbs. Sometimes it's just aromatic molecules formed through regulatory functions in the stems of plants that make them attractive, seduce, bring vitality, freshness, and bring richness to life [1][2][3]. It is a mixture of soluble organic substances with a characteristic odor.…”

Alternative Extraction Methods of Essential Oil From the Flowers of Citrus aurantium L. Var Daidai Tanaka: Evaluation of Oil Quality and Sedative-Hypnotic Activity

“…Depending on the interest in a certain kind of functional components, specific extraction methods could be utilized according to different target compositions. 52…”