Study of Leaf Oil Composition from Various Accessions of Curcuma longa L. Grown on Partially Reclaimed Sodic Soil

Abstract

The essential oils of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) were extracted from senescenced leaves by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Leaf essential oils of turmeric were found to be rich in monoterpenes. The GCMS analysis of leaf essential oil of 29 accessions showed presence of total 41 compounds mainly α-phellandrene, p-cymene, α-terpinolene and p-cymen-8-ol as the four major compounds. Based on identification of three major compounds from each oil, 13 compounds viz. β-Myrcene, α-Phellandrene, α-Terpinene, Limonene, 1,8-Cineole, p-cymene, τ-terpenine, α-Terpinolene, 1,3,8-p-Menthatriene, p-menth-1-en-4-ol, Borneol, p-menth-1-en-8-ol and p-cymen-8-ol were found to be the major constituents from each accession. The number of compounds in accessions varied from five in NBH-20 to 22 in Prabha. Out of 41 compounds, δ-Elemene was reported only in R. Sonia while β-Bisabolene was detected in Roma and P. Peetabh only. Based on the major compound(s) of turmeric leaf oil, industrial applications can be explored.