Volatile Oils of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. Grown in Sri Lanka

Journal of Essential Oil Research: JEOR, Mar/Apr 2005 by Arambewela, Lakshmi S R, Kumaratunge, Ajith, Arawwawela, Menuka, Owen, Noel L, Du, Li

Abstract

The essential oils of Alpinia calcarata Rose, rhizomes, roots and leaves were analyzed for their chemical composition by capillary GC and GC/MS. Around 18 compounds were identified. The major compound in the rhizome and leaf oils was 1,8-cineole (33.3% and 24.7%, respectively), whereas in the root oil it was α-fenchyl acetate (39.8%).

Key Word Index

Alpinia calcarata, Zingiberaceae, essential oil composition, camphene, 1,8-cineole, α-fenchyl acetate, camphor.

Introduction

Alpinia calcurata Rosc. (S. Heen Aratta) Family Zingiberaceae occurs in tropical countries including Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Malaysia (1,2). Drugs prepared from the rhizomes of A. calcarata are used in treatment of rheumatism, bronchial catarrh and asthma. It is also used to stimulate digestion, purify the blood, prevent bad breath, improve the voice and also to treat inflammation (1,3). The rhizome oil or a mixture of lime and ground rhizome of A. calcarata is used against fungal infection of the skin (4). The antimicrobial screening of A. calcarata rhizome EtOH extract and a hot water extract has shown antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus (5).

In Sri Lanka, A. calcarata is commonly prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians along with other plant materials in the treatment of arthritis (6,7). The analysis of A. calcarata has revealed the presence of protocatechinic acid, quercetin, 4-O-methyl-syringic acid, vanillic acid methyl cinnamate and several terpenes and diterpenes as constituents (8). 1,8-Cineole had been found to be the major constituent in the oil (8-11). The present study deals with the investigation of the chemical components in oils obtained from various parts of A. calcarata grown in Sri Lanka.

Experimental

The plant materials were collected from Veyangoda in Sri Lanka and identified at the Herbarium of Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. The voucher specimens are deposited there. Standard samples of components were obtained from Symrise (formerly Haarmann & Reimer), Holzminden, Germany.

Oil Isolation

Dried and crushed rhizomes, roots and fresh leaves were separately hydrodistilled for 4 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus to obtain the essential oils of the rhizomes (3.60%) roots (0.57%) and leaves (0.42%).

Analysis

GC analysis: The analysis was done using a capillary Supelcowax TM 10 column 30 m x 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm film on a Varian Model 2400 GC with FID detector and temperature programmed from 100°-220°C at 4°C/min. Quantitative data of the peaks were obtained and using standards peak enhancement experiments were carried out along with comparison of MS spectra with those of authentic compounds for identification.

GC/MS Analysis: This was done using a Hewlett Packard 5890 Series II, Chromatograph with DB-5 capillary column 30 m x 0.25 mm, 1 µm film and JEOL SX-102, a double-focusing reverse geometry instrument (70 eV spectra). Temperature program from 40°-280°C at 10°C/min.

Results and Discussions

The results given in Table I indicate that 18 components have been identified. 1,8-Cineole was found to be the major component in the oil of rhizomes and leaves while in the root oil it was α-fenchyl acetate. β-Pinene, which was the second major compound in leaf oil, was a minor compound in the root oil. Camphor, which occurred at a concentration of 13% in leaf oil, was not detected in the root oil.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to International Foundation for Science in Sweden for the research grant.

References

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Lakshmi S. R. Arambewela,* Ajith Kumaratunge and Menuka Arawwawela

Industrial Technology Institute, 363, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka