Investigating Optimal Parameters for Distilling Piper Lolot C.DC. Essential Oil and Studying Its Chemical Composition

Abstract

Fresh piper lolot leaves were harvested in An Hoa ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city and distilled for essential oil by means of steam distillation. The distillation process was conducted based on an investigation into optimal parameters for the highest essential oil yield. The essential oil was then analyzed to determine its physical-chemical indexes and chemical composition. The results show that the highest yield (0,61‰) was obtained in the optimal conditions of the distillation process as follows: the size of the material (1 mm); the solid: liquid ratio (1:2) (g/mL), the distillation time (3 hours) and the kind of mature leaves. The low physico-chemical indexes help to predict the stability of the oil and the impossibility of its oxidization. The main constituents in the essential oil include Myristicin (36,03%), Euasarone (32,03%), β-Caryophyllene (9,11%), γ-Elemene (2,97%) and Apioline (2,18%)