A sample (50 g) of air-dried plant material was
extracted by the hydrodistillation technique during 2
hours in a modified Clevenger-type apparatus
(Craveiro et al., 1976). The extracted essential oils were
stored in hermetically sealed dark glass flasks with
rubber lids, covered with aluminium foil to protect the
contents from light and kept under refrigeration at 4°C
until use without any prior purification.