On the genuineness of citrus essential oils. Part XL. The composition of the coumarins and psoralens of Calabrian bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia Risso)

Abstract

The content of bergamottin, 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin, citropten and bergapten in Calabrian bergamot essential oil was determined by HPLC. 128 genuine bergamot essential oils, cold-pressed during the year 1992, were analysed; for each sample the date and area of production of the fruits is known.The percentage of bergamottin ranges between 1.02% and 2.75%. 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin between 0.08 and 0.22%, citropten between 0.14% and 0.35%, bergapten between 0.11 YO and 0.32%. The mean content of bergamottin and 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin did not vary during the production period, while that of citropten and bergapten decreased considerably from January to March. There does not seem to be any evident correlation between the production areas of the fruits and the coumarin composition. The presence of some peaks absent in genuine bergamot essential oils, has been detected in three bergamot oils, available on the market, probably because of lime oil addition.

Study on the chemical composition variability of some processed bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oils

“…[8,15] The two coumarins citropten and 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin, and the two psoralens (= furocoumarins), bergamottin and bergapten, have been detected in all samples except for C. As can be seen, the amounts for cold-pressed oil (sample A) fall within the literature range. Sample B, which is a terpeneless oil, shows the highest amounts of all components and the specifi c presence of two additional components, herniarin (a coumarin) and sinensetin (a polymethoxylated fl avone), at levels of 251 and 372 mg/l, respectively.…”

“…In 1993, Mondello et al [8] extensively studied by HPLC the coumarin and psoralen content of Calabrian bergamot oils produced in the year 1992, fi nding interesting correlations between the content of the coumarins and the month of oil production. One year later, the same research group developed a fully automatic on-line LC-GC-MS system for the analysis of bergamot oil; in that case, 67 components were identifi ed among the volatiles, which were subjected to separation into chemical classes by means of LC.…”

<b>Effect of plantar subcutaneous administration of bergamot essential oil and linalool on formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in </b><b>mice </b>

“…BEO is obtained by cold pressing of the epicarp and part of the mesocarp of the fresh bergamot fruit. BEO consists of a volatile (93-96%) and a nonvolatile fraction (4-7%); the former contains monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated derivatives such as linalool and linalyl acetate, while the latter fraction contains waxes, polymethoxylated flavones, coumarins, and psoralens such as bergamottin and bergapten (6,14). BEO has been reported to minimize symptoms of stress-induced anxiety and mild mood disorders, as well as cancer pain, however the mechanistic basis for its use in such applications awaits discovery (1).…”

Advances in Fruit Flavor Research

“…Methods of adulteration become sophisticated in response to developing methodologies for detection. Significant research has been conducted to detect adulteration in citrus essential oils (29)(30)(31)(32). Methods of detection of adulteration include analyzing ratios of key terpene components, ratios of enantiomeric compounds such as linalool and nonvolatile components such as coumarin.…”