title: [Chemical composition of essential oil obtained from Romanian fennel fruits].
abstract: For therapeutical purposes, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), an important aromatic plant, is used for its expectorant, antispasmodic, carminative and diuretic properties. The chemical composition, especially of the volatile fraction, depends on the origin of the plant, and the ecological and environmental conditions in which it grows.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the chemical composition of the volatile fractions obtained from fennel fruits (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) available on the Romanian market.
  
  
  METHODS
  The essential oils obtained from dried fruits by hydrodistillation have been characterized by using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all oils, the main components were: trans-anethole (9.72-56.57%), fenchone (7.72-34.66%) and estragole (4.69-49.04%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The essential oil from fennel samples showed an inadequate chemical profile for aromatherapy purposes.
authors.affiliation: Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Farmacie, Disciplina de Farmacognozie.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Băjan
authors.forename: Ana Clara
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aprotosoaie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spac
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stănescu
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles / Q000737:chemistry; D019341:Aromatherapy; D001892:Camphanes; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009636:Norbornanes / Q000737:chemistry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D001892:Camphanes; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D009636:Norbornanes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C027327:fenchone; C007633:estragole; C006578:anethole