Characterization and Determination of Percentage of Carvone in the Spearmint Oil by Using GLC

In the present study physical characteristics and percentage of carvone were determined in spearmint oil. The Specific gravity was 0.920 to 0.940 (0.914 to 0.934 at 25^o); rotation was 36^o to- 50^o. Soluble in its own volume of alcohol (95 per cent.), forming a clear solution; also soluble in all proportions of absolute alcohol, and in about its own volume of alcohol (90 per cent.), the solution becoming opalescent on adding more solvent. The chief constituent of the oil was carvone. Boiling-point was 230^oC. It is an unsaturated ketone, having the formula C₁₀H₁₄O, and is a colourless liquid, smelling strongly of caraway, and solidifying on refrigeration. The chromatogram obtained by GLC type NUCON 5700 (Gas liquid chromatography) depicted that the percentage of carvone in the oil sample was 82 % concluding that its effectiveness was more than other oil.