Essential oil composition of sixteen elite cultivars of Mentha from western Himalayan region, India

The hydrodistilled essential oils of 16 cultivars of Mentha, viz. M. arvensis L., M. spicata L. and M. citrata Ehrh., were analysed and compared by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fifty-seven constituents representing 92.8-99.8% of the total essential oil composition were identified. Monoterpenoids (88.1-98.6%) are the major constituents of the essential oils. The major constituents of the oils in 9 cultivars of M. arvensis are menthol (73.7-85.8%), menthone (1.5-11.0%), menthyl acetate (0.5-5.3%), isomenthone (2.1-3.9%), limonene (1.2-3.3%) and neomenthol (1.9-2.5%). Carvone (51.3-65.1%), limonene (15.1-25.2%), -pinene (1.3-3.2%) and 1,8-cineole (≤0.1-3.6%) are the major constituents in 5 cultivars of M. spicata, while in one cultivar (Ganga) of M. spicata the major constituents are piperitenone oxide (76.7%), α-terpineol (4.9%) and limonene (4.7%). Linalool (59.7%), linalyl acetate (18.4%), nerol (2.0%), trans-p-menth-1-en-2-ol (1.8%), a-terpineol (1.5%) and limonene (1.1%) are the major constituents of M. citrata

Chemical investigation of the essential oil of Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood from India, Short communication

Hydrodistilled essential oil of the aerial parts of Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood, collected from the Kumaon region of the western Himalayas was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Eighty constituents, accounting for 83.9 % of the total oil composition, were identified. The oil was mainly dominated by sesquiterpenoids (45.3 %) and benzenoid compounds (33.9 %). Among them, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (32.2 %), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (14.7 %), β-caryophyllene (6.9 %) and caryophyllene oxide (5.4 %) were major components of the oil

Chemical composition of root aroma of <i>Decalepis</i><i>arayalpathra</i> (J. Joseph and V. Chandras.) Venter, an endemic and endangered ethnomedicinal plant from Western Ghats, India

<div><p><i>Decalepis</i><i>arayalpathra</i> (J. Joseph and V. Chandras.) Venter, which belongs to the family Apocynaceae, is a perennial under shrub, endemic to southern Western Ghats, India. The highly aromatic tuberous roots of the <i>D. arayalpathra</i> are used as an effective remedy for peptic ulcer, cancer-like afflictions and as rejuvenating tonic by native tribes. The objective of this study was to characterise the root aroma of <i>D. arayalpathra</i> for possible industrial applications. Hydrodistilled volatile oil of the roots was analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The volatile oil was characterised by the presence of higher amount of an industrially important flavour molecule, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (96.8%) along with some other minor or trace constituents. Owing to characteristic vanillin-like flavour, the root oil of the <i>D. arayalpathra</i> can be explored as a potential substitute of vanillin-aroma in the flavour industry.</p></div