G. D. Bagchi

Essential Oil Composition of Artemisia vulgaris Harvested at Different Growth Periods Under Indo-Gangetic Plain Conditions

Abstract Artemisia vulgaris was cultivated under subtropical Indo-gangetic plain conditions to determine the differences in the chemical composition of its essential oil produced from plants harvested at different growth periods using a combination of GC and GC/MS. The oil yield ranged from 0.1–0.5%. The leaf oil was found to be rich in 1,8-cineole (2.2–12.2%), α-thujone (0–11.4%), camphor (15.7–23.1%) and isoborneol (9.3–20.9%). The fruit oil contained α-thujone (15.5–16.0%) and artemisia alcohol (16.3–17.7%) as major components, while camphor (38.7%) predominated in the flower oil.

Variations in Essential Oil Constituents at Different Growth Stages of Ruta chalepensis on Cultivation at North Indian Plains

Abstract Aerial parts of Ruta chalepensis L. plant grown under North Indian plain conditions were hydrodistilled to obtain essential oils from plants harvested at different stages of growth and were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Nineteen compounds were identified representing 85.4–93.3% of the oil. 2-Undecanone (41.3–67.8%) was found to be the major compound followed by 2-nonanone (5.2–33.6%), 2-nonyl acetate (2.8–15.3%) and 2-dodecanone(<0.1–11.6%).

Essential Oil Constituents of Artemisia annua During Different Growth Periods at Monsoon Conditions of Subtropical North Indian Plains

Abstract Artemisia annua plants have so far been cultivated in the subtropical north Indian plains as a winter season crop. In the present experiment, the growth period of the plants was rescheduled so that they matured during the monsoon season. The oil obtained by steam distillation at different stages of growth was analyzed by GC and GC/MS to determine the difference in quality and quantity of the oil produced from different plant parts. Twenty-four compounds were identified. Significant changes in the chemical profile were observed due to the change in growing season. Camphor (10.5–44.4%) was found to be the major constituent of oil instead of the usually dominant artemisia ketone.

Effect of Altitude on the Essential Oil Constituents of Artemisia roxburghiana Besser var. purpurascens (Jacq.) Hook.

Abstract Mature vegetative plants of Artemisia roxburghiana Besser var. purpurascens (Jacq.) Hook were collected from Mussoorie (2205 m), Bhatwari (1218 m) and Bhaldana (850 m) from Garhwal Himalayas and their essential oils were isolated and subjected to GC and GC/MS analysis. The oil yield was lowest (0.2%) in the plants collected from the relatively higher altitude of Mussoorie; it was rich in borneol (21.2%) followed by linalyl acetate (7.4%) and α- humulene (6.7%). The oils from plants collected from the lower altitudes of Bhatwari and Bhaldana yielded higher percentage of oils (0.8–0.85%) which were dominated by β-caryophyllene (16.3%, 18.4%) followed by α-thujone (12.0%) in the former and eugenol (16.2%) in the later.

Wide spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activities in the seeds of some coprophilous plants of north Indian plains

In a survey at Lucknow, India, the seedlings of plant species which are prescribed in the Indian traditional system of medicine for a variety of infectious diseases were found to predominate on fresh or decomposing cattle dung, a harsh medium for plant growth due to high microbial load and other abiotic factors. Plants of most of the common species did not occur on the cattle dung heaps. It was hypothesized that plant species which are able to grow on cattle dung may have antimicrobial compounds in their seeds to protect them from microbial attack. In confirmation, the seeds of 15 of the coprophilous (kopros--dung, philein--to love) plant species, identified as occurring most frequently on fresh/decomposing cattle dung were directly tested against eight bacterial and three fungal strains. Interestingly, seeds of all the examined species exhibited antimicrobial activity. The seeds of the species found more frequently on the cattle dung heaps possessed higher levels of antimicrobial activities.

Distinguishing Features of Medicinal Herbaceous Species of Phyllanthus Occurring in Lucknow District (U.P.) India

AbstractThe small, herbaceous species of Phyllanthus, commonly called “Bhumyamalaki” in Sanskrit are widely used medicinal plants, especially for treating jaundice. In Uttar Pradesh, P. amarus Schum. & Thonn., P. fraternus Webster, P. urinaria L. and P. virgatus Forst., grow commonly in the wild. The similarity in appearance and common vernacular names “Bhumyamalaki” or “Bhuianavalah” assigned to these Phyllanthus species create confusion in identifying a particular species. Pharmacognostic studies on the above species of Phyllanthus from Lucknow district (Uttar Pradesh) have been carried out to identify each of them correctly and to avoid confusion and adulteration in commerce.

Oil Constituents of Artemisia nilagirica var. septentrionalis During Different Growth Phases at Subtropical Conditions of North Indian Plains

Abstract Essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. var. septentrionalis Pamp. harvested during different growth phases were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil yield was highest (0.6%) during the flowering stage. During the vegetative, budding and fruiting stages camphor was the main constituent, while during the flowering stage, it was replaced by β-caryophyllene. Other important constituents of the oil were germacrene D, α-humulene and 1,8-cineole.

Chemical Constituents of Artemisia verlotiorum Essential Oil on Cultivation at the Subtropical Conditions of North India

Abstract The essential oil of Artemisia verlotiorum, which has been cultivated for the first time in the subtropical conditions of the north Indian plains, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Oils were produced from plants harvested both in their vegetative and flowering stages yielding oils of 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Thirty-three constituents amounting to 90–93% of the oil were identified. In both the stages, the major oil constituents were α-thujone (20.3–26.0%) and camphor (17.3–17.7%). The amounts of both constituents increased during flowering.

Effect of Seasons and Drying on the Essential Oil Composition of Leaf in Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke

Abstract The effect of seasons (winter and summer) and drying on the yield and composition of essential oil obtained from the leaves of Ocimum kilimandscharicum, cultivated at the subtropical conditions of North India, was examined by combined GC and GC/MS analysis. This chemotype was found to be rich in camphor (winter 48.9%, summer 58.9%), 1,8-cineole (winter 22.2%, summer 14.8%), and limonene (winter 5.5%, summer 5.6%). The yield of oil was observed to be more in summer (0.8%) than in winter (0.6%). On shade drying of the leaves, no effect was observed in the yield of oil in winter season. However, in summer, yield was slightly reduced on drying (from 0.8% to 0.6%). Camphor, the major constituent of the oil, showed slight degradation in quantity during drying in both winter and summer seasons.

Capillary Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Eucalyptus globulus from Different Geoclimatic Zones in India

Abstract Eucalyptus globulus oils from four different geoclimatic zones in India were analyzed by gas chromatography for quality evaluation. Nineteen components were identified with the help of retention indices and co-injection technique. Among the four samples the oil from Bangalore was found to be of superior quality, containing highest percentage of 1,8-cineole