Chemical characterizations of the aromatic compositions of two citrus species: citrus aurantium and citrus reticulata

Abstract

Aromatic plants produce essential oils as secondary metabolites, but their exact role in the processes of plant life remains unknown.1 Some authors believe that the plant uses oil to repel or attract insects, in the latter case, to promote pollination. Others consider the oil as an energetic source, facilitating certain chemical reactions, conserve the humidity of plants in desert climates.2 Some essential oils are used for the defense of plants against herbivores, insects and microorganisms.3