Qualification of Indonesian National Standard Parameters and GC–MS Identification of Chemical Compounds in Commercial Citronella Essential Oil (Cymbopogon nardus L.) Rendle

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The demand for essential oils has increased rapidly in line with the growth of the cosmetic, food, perfume, pharmaceutical, and aromatherapy industries.   Citronella essential oil is one of the essential oils with high economic value and significant therapeutic benefits. Its main active constituents—citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol—exhibit antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant activities and are widely utilized in the perfume and cosmetic industries. Despite established quality standards (SNI 06-3953-1995), many commercial products fail to meet required specifications, particularly in active compound content. Previous reports have highlighted variability in citronellal and geraniol levels, raising concerns about product consistency and consumer safety. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the conformity of commercial citronella oils and to identify their chemical constituents using GC–MS method. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) method   allows to detect trace adulterants and confirm the precise chemical and botanical profile of the essential oil. A Total of six citronella essential oil samples were analyzed, consisting of three brands registered with the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) and three unregistered brands. Quality assessments included color, specific gravity, refractive index, solubility in ethanol, and the presence of foreign substances based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 06-3953-1995. The results showed that all samples met the SNI quality requirements, exhibiting pale yellow to yellowish-brown coloration, specific gravity values of 0.8850–0.9127, refractive indices of 1.467–1.474, and clear solubility at a 1:2 ethanol ratio. GC–MS analysis identified dominant compounds such as cyclofenchene, citronellal, and geraniol, with cyclofenchene being the most abundant component. However, despite compliance with physicochemical parameters, the contents of citronellal and geraniol were still below the minimum limits specified by SNI. These findings indicate variations in the quality of commercial citronella essential oils and highlight the need for standardized production processes and continuous quality control.

Keywords: Essential oil, GC-MS, kaffir lime, lemongrass