Jnanesha et al. Available Ind. J. Pure online App. at Biosci. www.ijpab.com (2019) 7(6), 107 -113 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7867 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2019) 7(6), 107-113 Research Article Variation in the Essential Oil Yield and Chemical Composition of Palmarosa Biomass Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) wats. var. Motia Burk) Under Different Location in Semi Arid Tropic Regions of India 1* 1 2 3 Jnanesha A. C. , Ashish Kumar , Manoj Kumar Singh and Nagaraj S. 1CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Boduppal, Hyderabad, India 2Department of Horticulture, Kulbhaskar Ashram Post Graduate College, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh-02 3Project assistant, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Boduppal, Hyderabad-500092, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 20.10.2019 | Revised: 23.11.2019 | Accepted: 28.11.2019 ABSTRACT Palmarosa is an essential oil bearing aromatic grass, rich in geraniol and geranyl acetate with abundant pharmacological and aroma properties. This study encompasses variation in the essential oil yield and chemical composition of palmarosa grown under different location. From the data, it is found that Palmarosa grown in Ranga Reddy district recorded significantly higher herbage yield (3.9 t acre-1), oil yield (27.3kg acre-1) and oil content (0.7%) and was followed by Yadadri location (3.7t acre-1, 22.2 kg acre-1, 0.6 % respectively). Similarly, Geraniol content was significantly higher in Ranga Reddy district (76.1 %) followed by Yadadri district (75.8 %). However, Geranyl acetate content was higher in Nalgonda district (21.7 %) followed by Yadadri district (18.3 %). Whereas, Farnesol was higher in Ranga Reddy district (3.6 %) followed by Nalgonda district (2.4 %). The sample collected from Yadadri recorded higher linalool content (2.3 %) followed by Nalgonda district (1.8 %). Howev er, Nalgonda district recorded higher Cis β ocimene (2.0 %) compared to rest of the places. Keywords: Essential oil, Geraniol, Geranyl acetate, Farnesol and Cis β ocimene INTRODUCTION producer and exporter of palmarosa essential Palmarosa [Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) oil. The essential oil, isolated from the Wats. Var. motia Burk., family: Poaceae;] flowering shoot biomass through steam commonly known ‘Rosha’ grass or ‘Russa’ distillation has rose-like aroma, finds extensive grass is a multi-harvest perennial aromatic application in high grade perfumery, cosmetic, grass cultivated for its essential oil. The flavouring and aromatherapy industries palmarosa is a native of most parts of (Adams, 2007; Akhila et al., 1984). subtropical India and India is the principal Cite this article: Jnanesha, A.C., Ashish, K., Singh, M.K., & Nagaraj, S. (2019). Variation in the Essential Oil Yield and Chemical Composition of Palmarosa Biomass Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) wats. var. Motia Burk) Under Different Location in Semi Arid Tropic Regions of India, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 7(6), 107- 113. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.7867 Copyright © Nov.-Dec., 2019; IJPAB 107 Jnanesha et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2019) 7(6), 107-113 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 The characteristic odour of Palmarosa oil is Essential oil isolation: Harvested fresh due to its high content of total alcohol, mainly biomass of palmarosa (Leaf, stem & geraniol and a small but varying amount of inflorescence) were sub sampled (500 gram esters associated with geraniol. The trace each) and hydro distilled separately for 3 h in a constituents present in the oil are responsible Clevenger-type glass apparatus for essential for the characteristic olfactory note of oil isolation. The distillations were carried out Palmarosa oil. In India, the palmarosa oil is in triplicate for all the samples. The moisture produced mainly in Semi-arid Tropical (SAT) from the oil was removed by anhydrous regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, sodium sulphate, then measured and stored at Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra (Ashish & 4°C prior to isolation. Jnanesha, 2017). The Deccan Plateau is a large Gas chromatography (GC) analysis: plateau in western and southern India (Ashish GC analyses of the oil samples were & Jnanesha, 2017). India is the main producer performed on Varian Star 3400 CX gas of Palmarosa oil, while other countries chromatograph (Varian Inc., Middelburg, The producing this oil include Brazil and Netherlands) fitted with a flame ionization Madagascar. Indian production ranges from 40 detector (FID), KX-P1150 Panasonic printer- to 60 tons of essential oil per year. France is plotter (Panasonic India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, the major importer of Palmarosa oil from India India) and an electronic integrator. Separation by UAS, UK, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, of compounds was achieved by using two Srilanka and Philipines (Davies, 1990). The capillary columns, SPB-1 and Supelcowax-10 area under cultivation of palmarosa was (both 30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film increasing further due to ease of cultivation thickness), with distinct polarity. The columns especially in marginal, wasteland and were coated with dimethylpolysiloxane and underutilized lands without affecting the Carbowax 20M, respectively, and were production of cereals and other food crops. As purchased from Supelco Inc., Bellefonte, a part of our studies to know the variation in USA. Nitrogen was employed as carrier gas chemical constituents of palmarosa oil from with a flow rate of 1 mL/min and 10 psi inlet three different locations in Telanagana state pressure. The column temperature viz., Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda and Yadadri programming was: 80°C (2 min) at 5°C/min to districts samples were studied for their volatile 150°C at 7°C/ min to 220°C (5 min). The constituents. injector and the detector were maintained at 200°C and 240°C, respectively. The samples MATERIALS AND METHODS (0.1 μL) were injected neat with 1:50 split Experimental site, Location and sample: ratio. Retention indices were generated by The experimental location is semi arid tropic using series of n-alkanes from C8 to C23 regions of India. Collection of Palmarosa (Jennings & Shibamoto, 1989). sample and analysis of whole parts (Stems, Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry leaves and inflorescence) of Cymbopogon (GC/MS) analysis: martini (Roxb.) Wats. Var. Motia were done GC/MS analyses of the oil samples were during summer season of 2018-19 and was carried out using a Hewlett-Packard 5850 gas collected from three districts of Telanagana chromatograph coupled to an HP-5850 mass- 0 1 state, India viz., Ranga Reddy (17 25 N selective detector (MSD) system (Hewlett- 0 1 latitude and 78 33 E longitude), Nalgonda Packard Asia Pacific Ltd., Singapore) using an (170141 N latitude and 790161 E longitude) and HP-1 column (25 m × 0.20 mm, 0.25 μm film Yadadri (170301 N latitude and 790161 E thickness) coated with methyl silicone. Helium longitude). It was collected from site of an was employed as the carrier gas at 1 mL/min area of 100 sq. Mt and estimated herbage yield flow rate. The temperature program was the and oil content per acre. Copyright © Nov.-Dec., 2019; IJPAB 108 Jnanesha et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2019) 7(6), 107-113 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 same as in GC analyses. Mass spectra were Variation in the essential oil composition of recorded over 40–400 amu range at 1 span/s palmarosa oil with 70 eV ionization energy, EI mode of From the analysis of palmarosa oil collected ionization and ion source temperature was from different location found that, among maintained at 250°C. The samples (0.1 μL) different sample. The sample collected from Ranga Reddy district recorded higher geraniol were injected with 1:50 split ratio (Jnanesha et percentage (76.1%) compared to rest of the al., 2019; Raina et al., 2003). sample and was followed by Yadadri district Identification of constituents: (75.8 %) and lower geraniol content was The oil components were identified by noticed in Nalgonda sample (67.9 %). comparison of their RRIs and mass spectra Similarly, farnesol content is also higher in with published literature and those stored in Ranga Reddy district (3.6 %) was noticed and NIST (Version 2.1) and Wiley (7th edn) was followed by Nalgonda district (2.4 %). libraries (Raina et al., 2003). However, the sample collected from Nalgonda Statistical analysis: The statistical analysis district recorded higher percentage of geranyl was done for obtained data using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). acetate (21.7 %) compared to rest of the sample and was followed by Yadadri district RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (18.3 %). Lower geranyl acetate percentage Herbage, oil yield and oil content of was noticed in Ranga Reddy district (11.4 %). palmarosa Whereas, Yadadri district sample recorded From the data, it is found that the palmarosa higher linalool content (2.3 %) compared to sample collected from Ranga Reddy district rest of the sample and was followed by recorded significantly higher herbage yield Nalgonda (1.8 %) and Ranga Reddy district (3.9 t/acre) compared to sample collected from (1.2 %). Cis β ocimene, β Myrcene and Trans Nalgonda district (3.0 t/acre) and was followed β Ocimene was higher in sample collected by Yadadri district (3.7 t/acre). The yield from Nalgonda district (2.0 %, 0.2 % and 0.3 obtained in Rangareddy district was higher to %). It is evident from the study that the an extent of 23.1%, 5.1% over palmarosa Palmarosa sample collected from Ranga sample collected from Nalgonda and Yadadri Reddy district is the best among the three dues district. Similarly, Oil yield obtained from to its higher geraniol content and lower Rangareddy district sample is also geranyl acetate contents. The higher geraniol significantly higher (27.3 kg acre-1) compared content imparts a sweet floral rose like odour to rest of the samples and was followed by to the oil, while the heavy notes of geranyl Yadadri district.