The International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE)
Abstract
Essential oils were obtained from fresh leaves of Chromolaena odorota (L.) harvested at different times of the day (morning and afternoon) by hydro distillation using the Clevenger apparatus. The oils were analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Caryophyllene (6.40%) and aromadendrene (5.56%) were the major sesquiterpenoids in the morning sample while ?- pinene (9.09%) and ?- pinene (5.10%) were the main monoterpenoids detected. The principal sesquiterpenoids in the leaf oil of the afternoon sample are Germacrene D (4.70%), aromadendrene , ?-amorphene and ?-muuolene which were detected in the same amount of 4.12% while the main monoterpenoids detected are ?-pinene (5.63%) and ?-pinene (4.83%). Key words: Chromolaena odorata, GC-MS, aromadendrene, terpenes, asteracea
