Gopal R. Mallavarapu

An efficient in vitro procedure for micropropagation and generation of somaclones of rose scented Pelargonium.

Efficient protocols have been established for both direct and indirect regeneration of plants in Pelargonium graveolens Indian cultivar Hemanti (Algerian type). Murashige and Skoogs (MS) medium [T. Murashige, F. Skoog, A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15 (1962) 473-497] supplemented with 5.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA was optimal for direct regeneration of plants from leaf explants while 8.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA proved optimum for nodal explants for maximum number of shoots per explant. Callus induction was observed from nodal explants on MS medium supplemented with 10 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l NAA. Callus on further transfer to MS medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.1 mg/l NAA exhibited regeneration of maximum number of shoots. In vitro grown shoots of both direct and indirect origin rooted within 7-10 days following transfer to half strength MS medium with 1.0 mg/l IBA. Plantlets were acclimatized under glass house conditions with 90% survival. Randomly selected 85 individual Calliclones were subjected to field trial with 85-95% survival for two successive years along with control in randomized block design with three replicates. Screening of these calliclones revealed two distinct morphotypes, one with parental type highly dentated leaves (HDL) and the other with less dentated, round leaves (LDL). Only HDL calliclones flowered under field conditions. The LDL clones differed in several herb related agronomic characteristics such as plant height, herb yield, canopy size and number of branches per plant from the parental type as well as from the parent, which seems advantageous for commercial exploitation of such clones. The HDL clones closely resemble the parent in having higher content of citronellol than geraniol while the LDL clones contain almost equal contents of citronellol and geraniol in their essential oils as revealed by gas chromatography analysis. It is noticeable that the variability both in terms of agronomic characters and essential oil profiles among the clones were stable over 2 years of field trials.

The Essential Oil of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.

ABSTRACT The essential oils of Hyptis suaveolens produced from wild plants growing at two different locations (Bangalore and Hyderabad) in India have been examined by capillary GC and GC/MS. The chief constituent found in both the oils was 1,8-cineole (31.5–35.3%).

Volatile constituents of the essential oils of the seeds and the herb of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk.)

The essential oil of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. var. motia Burk.) seeds collected from three different geographical locations in India was analysed by capillary GC and GC–MS. The composition of the oil samples was compared with that of the oil of flowering palmarosa herb. Besides the main constituent, geraniol (74.5–81.8%), 55 other constituents, including those present in trace amounts, were identified in the seed essential oil. Although the composition of the seed oils is similar to that of the herb oil, quantitative differences in the concentration of some constituents were observed. The seed oil was found to contain lower amounts of geranyl acetate and higher amounts of (E, Z)-farnesol than the herb oil.

Composition of the essential oils of two isomenthone-rich variants of geranium (Pelargonium sp.)

Two clones of geranium (nos 53 and 79) obtained from leaf cuttings of a geranium cultivar (Pelargonium sp.) and later multiplied by stem cuttings were found to be rich in isomenthone (64.4 and 67.7%) in their essential oils. The detailed composition of the oils of these two clones was investigated by capillary GC and GC-MS and compared with that of the oil of the parent cultivar. Linalol, citronellol, geraniol and citronellyl formate, which are the major constituents of the parent cultivar, were found only as minor constituents in the oils of the two clones. These two isomenthone-rich clones differed from each other in their α-pinene content (1.1% and 8.5%) although both have 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (6.8% and 8.4%) comparable with the parent cultivar (7.6%).

Composition of the Volatile Oils of Alpinia galanga Rhizomes and Leaves from India

Abstract The essential oils of the rhizomes and the leaves of Alpinia galanga Willd. from Bangalore and Hyderabad in India were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The oils of the rhizomes and the leaves from the two places were found to contain similar constituents. The rhizome oils from Bangalore and Hyderabad contained limonene (3.7% and 3.5 %, respectively), 1,8-cineole (33.0% and 30.2 %, respectively), camphor (5.0% and 14.0%, respectively), α-terpineol (9.3 % and 2.3 %, respectively), α-fenchyl acetate (12.7 % and 1.1 %, respectively) and (E)-methyl cinnamate (5.3 % and 2.6 %, respectively), as the major constituents. The major constituents of the leaf oils from the same locations were: α-pinene (6.6 % and 6.3 %, respectively), camphene (5.0 % and 5.1%, respectively), β-pinene (21.5 % and 23.5 %, respectively), 1,8-cineole (34.4 % and 30.7%, respectively) and camphor (7.8 % and 12.8 %, respectively).

Changes in Chemical Composition of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium sp.) Oil during Storage

Abstract A comparison between properly stored and improperly stored (containing a small amount of water, half-filled in aluminum container and stored under ambient conditions) rose-scented geranium oil was made. It was found that the menthone, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents increased significantly under poor storage conditions, whereas linalool, geraniol, geranyl formate and lO-epi-γ-eudesmol contents decreased under poor storage conditions over the period of 6-24 months. When the oil was stored correctly, the concentrations of linalool, citronellol, citronellyl formate and 10-epi-γ-eudesmol did not vary markedly, while that of menthone increased slightly and those of geraniol and geranyl formate declined marginally. Correct storage conditions were defined as oil that has been dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filled up to the brim in an aluminum container or amber-colored bottle, tightly stoppered and stored under ambient conditions. No polymerization was observed in oils irrespective of...

Composition of Indian Curry Leaf Oil

Abstract The essential oil of Indian curry leaf (Murraya koenigii Spreng.) collected from two different places in India has been investigated for its composition by GC and GC/MS. The oils from the two places were found to contain mostly monoterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes. The main constituents of the oil identified are α-pinene (19.0–19.7%), sabinene (31.8–44.8%), β-pinene (4.2–4.7%), α-terpinene (1.3–4.3%), β-phellandrene (6.5–7.9%), γ-terpinene (3–9-7.1%) and terpinen-4-ol (5.2–9-9%).

Essential Oil of Coleus aromaticus Benth. from India

Abstract The essential oils of Coleus aromaticus distilled in different seasons have been analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The oils were found to contain carvacrol (53.0–67.0%), p-cymene (6.5–12.6%) and γ-terpinene (5.9–155%) as major constituents. The oil produced in September was found to contain higher contents of carvacrol and β-caryophyllene and oxygenated constituents than the oil produced in May.

Three tetranortriterpenoids from fruits of Soymida febrifuga

Abstract Three new tetranortriterpenoids, epoxyfebrinin B, 14,15-dihydroepoxyfebrinin B and febrinolide, have been isolated from the fruits of Soymida febrifuga and their structures assigned on the basis of their spectroscopic properties.

Composition of the Oil of Rose-Scented Geranium (Pelargonium sp.) Grown Under the Semiarid Tropical Climate of South India

ABSTRACT Essential oil of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium sp.) cultivated under the semiarid tropical climate of Andhra Pradesh, South India has been examined by capillary GC and GC/MS. The oil possessed a composition similar to the African-type geranium because of the presence of a higher concentration of 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (3.8–4.2%) than of guaia-6, 9-diene (0.13–0.15%).