STUDY OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TAMARIX RAMOSISSIMA ESSENTIAL OIL
Samples of essential oil from Tamarix ramosissima plant growing in the Astrakhan region were obtained by steam distillation and the dependence of its yield on the vegetative period of the plant was studied. The duration of the process of steam distillation was established experimentally on the basis of a study of the dynamics of the change in the yield of essential oil in time. The yield of essential oil was determined in % by weight of absolutely dry raw material. The largest yield of essential oil was obtained from plants in the flowering phase (0,23–0,3%). By method of gas-liquid chromatography carried out a quantitative analysis of the main components of essential oil Tamarix ramosissima. The quantitative content of essential oil components was calculated from the areas of gas chromatography peaks without the use of correction factors. Qualitative analysis was carried out by comparing the linear retention indices. It was found that the composition of the essential oil of Tamarix is very specific. It includes hydrocarbons (9,51%), alcohols (3,46%), aldehydes (2,55%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (5,4%), oxygenated terpenes (23,06%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (1,48%), oxygenated diterpenoids (3,37%), and a significant amount of fatty acids and their esters (45,43%). The main components of the essential oil are tetrahydrogeranilacetone (21,35%), nonane (12,63%), decanoic (9,82%) acids and dihydroactin diolide (5,40%).