Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources Vol. 6(4), December 2015, pp. 251-260 Chemical composition and biological properties of Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty syn. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash- A Review Khushminder Kaur Chahal, Urvashi Bhardwaj*, Sonia Kaushal and Amanpal Kaur Sandhu Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India Received 1 April 2015; Accepted 18 August 2015 Vetiver [Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty syn. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash] commonly known as khas-khas, khas, khus-khus or khus grass belongs to the family Poaceae. The roots of this grass on steam distillation yield an essential oil mainly consisting of sesquiterpenes (3-4 %), sesquiterpenols (18-25 %) and sesquiterpenones (7-8 %). Among these, the major economically important active compounds are khusimol, α-vetivone and β-vetivone which constitute about 35 % of oil. The commercial grades, viz. Dharini, Gulabi and Kesari and Pusa Hybrid-7, Hybrid-8, Sugandha, KH-8, KH-40, are available in North India and South India, respectively for commercial cultivation. The insecticidal, antimicrobial, herbicidal and antioxidant activities of essential oil and its components like vetivone, zizanal, epizizanal and nootkatone are well known. This review is an effort to collect all the information regarding chemical composition and biological activities of vetiver oil. Keywords: Biological activities, Chemical composition, Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty, Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, Vetiver essential oil. IPC code; Int. cl. (2015.01)− A61K 36/00 Introduction khus grass (Hindi), valo (Gujrati), vala (Marathi) is a The essential oils also known as ethereal oils are fast growing perennial grass belonging to family defined as odiferous bodies of an oily nature, obtained Poaceae. It has thick fibrous adventitious roots which almost exclusively from all vegetative parts such as are aromatic and highly valued. This tufted grass grows flowers, buds, stems, leaves, fruits, seeds and roots, throughout the plains of India ascending up to an etc.1-3. The amount of essential oil found in most plants elevation of 1200 m. Though it originated in India, is 1-2 % but can contain amounts ranging from 0.01-10 vetiver is widely cultivated in tropical regions of the %. In recent years, there is an increasing trend in world. During Mogul times, French traders introduced research on essential oils extracted from various herbs this plant to Bourbon Island in the Indian Ocean and to and aromatic plants due to the continuous discoveries the new world colonies of Louisiana and Haiti. of their multifunctional properties other than their The most commonly used commercial genotypes of classical roles as food additives, cleaning products, vetiver are sterile and this grass has rhizome buds for 4-6 cosmetics, air fresheners as well as in medicinal uses . propagation. Pruning techniques are applied to promote Antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti- root and leaf growth; this grass can grow vigorously on inflammatory properties of essential oils have been any kind of soil and climatic conditions. It has been 7-9 found and confirmed . reported that almost all vetiver grown worldwide found Now-a-days, approximately 3000 essential oils are to be a single clone (no variation in the DNA known of which 300 are commercially available. The examined) called 'Sunshine' in the United States, after major constituents of essential oils are the town of Sunshine, Louisiana used for commercial terpenes/terpenoids, aromatic and aliphatic compounds, essential oil production are Sunshine or very similar which are characterized as low-molecular weight aroma cultivars10. chemicals responsible for various properties of the plant. Vetiver is most closely related to Sorghum but Vetiver commonly known as resbira or shares morphological characteristics with other fragrant sugandbmula (Sanskrit), khas-khas, khas, khus khus or grasses such as lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf], citronella [C. nardus (L.) Rendle] and *Correspondent author E-mail: [email protected] palmarosa [C. martinii (Roxb.)W.Watson]. The two Phone: +91-9781705006 genera Chrysopogon and Sorghum are closely related 252 INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, DECEMBER 2015 to each other10, based on an overlap of genetic and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is morphological data, the two genera Vetiveria and late and low flowering with high pollen sterility and Chrysopogon have been combined under non-seed-setting with wider leaves producing low Chrysopogon11 and this led to the recognition of quality dextrorotatory root oil (vetiver oil) resembling Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty as valid name Java vetiver14. The essential oil of these two varies in for Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash12. both quality and yield. Extraction of vetiver oil from grass is known in Vetiver oil extracted from North Indian variety has India since the time of Vedas. It is viscous, light to the typical earthy note, higher specific gravity, free dark brown oil obtained from the aromatic roots by alcohols and ester value after acetylation while the steam distillation method. Depending upon the biotype, South Indian has the dominant spicy character, higher cultural practices, age of roots, mode and duration of refractive index, acid value, ester value, combined distillation vetiver may yield about 0.3 to 2 % essential alcohols, ester content and carbonyl value (Table 1). oil on fresh root weight basis. The colour and scent can The roots of North Indian vetiver dug out every year vary according to the source. Reunion (Bourbon) and from local areas are sold in the market in three Haitian oil with roseate note is highly regarded in commercial grades namely lachha, nakhuni and perfumery industry but the vetiver oil obtained from munjhar. The oil yield ranged from 0.076-0.45 % and wild roots in India is considered to be the best for its highest yield is obtained from lachha followed by balsamic woody note. Vetiver genotype producing oil nakhuni and munjhar15. Other commercial grades worth roseate and saffron note has been identified from available in North India are Dharini, Gulabi and North Indian plains13. Two morphologically distinct Kesari. Among South Indian types, Pusa Hybrid-7, complexes of vetiver are found to inhabit spatially Hybrid-8, CIMAPKS-2, Sugandha, KH-8, KH-40 and separated geographic regions of India yielding oil with ODV-3 are varieties available for commercial different characteristics: Bharatpur or North Indian cultivation. type found along the Indo-gangetic plains and The vetiver oil is traditionally known as Vetiver oil in adjoining areas mainly in the states of Rajasthan, trade. It is also known as Oil of tranquility and has a Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has profuse fragrance of its own for which no synthetic substitute is flowerings, high seed setting having narrow leaves available. The annual world trade in vetiver oil is with vigorous roots producing low concentration estimated around 250 tons (approximately $ 20-200 superior quality laevorotatory root oil (khus oil). The million per annum), with Haiti, Indonesia, China, Japan, South Indian or cultivated type found along the east India and Brazil being the main producers and USA, and west coasts of Indian peninsula in the states of Europe, India and Japan being the main consumers16. Table 1Physico-chemical parameters of Indian vetiver oils Test parameters North Indian South Indian Yield (%) 0.28 2.37 General appearance (visual observation) Brown, clear liquid Yellowish brown, clear liquid Odour Heavy woody, earthy, sweet, persistent Harsh woody, spicy Specific gravity at 27 ºC 1.0118 1.0026 Refractive Index at 27 ºC 1.5147 1.5220 Optical rotation -57.70 +28.23 Acid value 21.30 28.45 Ester value 17.89 24.10 Ester value after acetylation 91.90 133.57 Free alcohol present 79.79 47.76 Combined alcohol 7.026 9.46 Total alcohol 86.81 57.20 Ester content 8.36 11.27 Carbonyl value 8.15 35.45 Solubility in 80 % ethanol 1:1 1:1 Source: Dubey et al42 CHAHAL et al: CHRYSOPOGON ZIZANIOIDES (L.) ROBERTY – A REVIEW 253 The commercial and social utility of this plant was revealed that the non-cleansed vetiver had the typical first realized on account of its aromatic roots and lately vetiver oil profile, whereas the cleansed vetiver overwhelmed by environmental applications of the produced large amounts of C19–C29 alkanes plus several plant as such, as well as diverse industrial uses of alkanols along with typical vetiver oil compounds, but above ground plant parts17. It is well known as an eco- lacked presumed fungal metabolites such as β- friendly plant that prevents soil erosion and funebrene, prezizaene, α-amorphene and β-vetispirene. rehabilitates metalliferous polluted land18,19. It is It seems that the biotic factors enhance the oil cultivated for the production of a commercially production in normal vetiver by both increasing yield important essential oil used in perfumery and and the generation of signature oil compounds31. 20-22 aromatherapy . Vetiver oil owes several beauty The essential oil composition of natural and two benefits, replenishes moisture in dry and dehydrated types of in vitro regenerated plants referred as skin and rejuvenation effect on mature skin, as well as morphotypes were compared. The two morphotypes 23 cuts, wounds, irritated and inflamed skin and prevents showed varied essential oil content of 2.2 % (long), 1.9 stretch marks after pregnancy. The oil strengthens the % (short)