GC/MS analysis of the essential oil from the oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp atlantica from Algeria

The oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica Desf. ssp. atlantica, growing wild in different and and semi-arid regions of Algeria, is a popular naturally-occurring chewing gum and has been used traditionally in the treatment of peptic ulcer. GC/MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from solvent distillation of the fresh oleoresin has led to the identification of many terpenoids: alpha-pinene (39.4%), beta-pinene (12.9%), carvacrol (11.8%), pinocarvone (5.5%), limonene (5.1%), germacrene-D (2.4%), trans-pinocarveol (2. 1 %), camphenol (2%), borneol (2%), alpha-terpene (1.8%), p-cymene (1.7%), terpinolene (1.4%), terpinene-4-ol (1.4%), isopinocarveol (1.1%) and verbenene (1.0%). Other minor constituents were also identified.