CHEMICAL COMPOSTION OF TAURUS FIR (Abies cilicica subsp. isaurica) OLEORESIN

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of both turpintine and colophony parts of Abies cilicica subsp. isaurica (Taurus fir) oleoresin collected from Mersin-Turkey. Colophony of taurus fir was not performed before. Hydro-distillation was applied for the separation of turpentine and colophony. Samples were analyzed separately by FID-GC and GC-MS. The yield of oleoresin was 14,3 % turpentine and 82,5 % colophony. Fourty-six compounds were found in the turpentine where α-pinene (81,2 %) was the major compound with β-pinene (12,6 %). However, in the colophony abietane type resin acids were forming the main group (abietic 46,8%, neoabietic 29,5%). Resin hydrocarbons and terpenes were identified in the unsaponified fraction of colophony of Taurus fir. High α-pinene and abietic acid contents make this oleoresin to be used in pharmacy and chemical industries.