Comparison on chemical composition of essential oil of reproductive organs of Melia azedarach L. cultivated in Kashan Botanical Garden

Melia L. genus، belonging to the Meliaceae family، has important tree species. There are more than 15 species of this genus in the world and two species from Iran have been reported so far. In this study، the chemical compositions of the essential oils of reproductive organs of M. azedarach L.، cultivated in Kashan Botanical Garden، were investigated. The flowering branches and ripe fruits of this species were collected in the spring of 2009 and dried in the shade (at room temperature). The essentila oil was extracted by simultaneous steam distillation extraction method. The oil analysis was performed by using GC and GC-MS. The essential oil yield of flowering branches and fruits was calculated to be 0. 02% and 0. 01% (w/w)، respectively. Ten and 35 chemical compositions were identified in the essentila oils of flowering branches and fruits of this species. The main components of the essential oils of flowers were E-nerolidole (39%)، bicyclogermacrene (8. 2%) and viridiflorol (8. 1%). The main components of the essential oils of fruits were aromadendrene (21. 9%)، bicyclogermacrene (13. 7%)، globulol (8. 1%)، spathulenol (6. 5%)، allo-aromadendrene (4. 7%)، β-caryophyllene (4. 7%). Oxygenated sesquiterpens were identified as main component in the essential oil of flowers، while the major chemical component of the essential oils of fruits were associated with hydrocarbon sesquiterpens، and hydrocarbon monoterpenes were not found in plant reproductive organs.