Sumitra Maurya

Chemical and biocidal investigations on essential oils of some Indian Curcuma species

Abstract The chemical investigation on volatile oils of Curcuma longa (rhizome), C. zedoaria (rhizome), C. aromatica (leaf) and C. amada (rhizome), done by GC and GC-MS. The rhizome oil of C. longa have been found to contain ar-turmerone (51.8%), ar-turmerol (11.9%), C. amada, myrcene (80.54%), β - pinene (4.64%), C. zedoaria, 1,8 cineol (18.5%), cymene (18.42%), α-phellandrene (14.9%) and leaf oil of C. aromatica,p-cymene (25.2%), 1,8-cineole (24.8%) as principal constituents. The bioassay of these oils indicated C. longa as good antifungal material and cause complete mycelial growth of Colletotrichum falcatum (CF), Fusarium moniliforme (FM), at 1000 ppm and Curvularia Pallescens (CP), Aspergillus niger(AN), Fusarium oxysporium (FO), at 2000 ppm concentrations. The C. zedoaria and C. aromatica also cause complete mycelial growth of CF at 2000 ppm and 3000 ppm concetration respectively. The latter two oils also have also good insecticidal against Odontotermes obesus Rhamb, a pest of sugarcane.

Antiviral Activity of Essential Oils and Acetone Extracts of Medicinal Plants Against Papaya Ring Spot Virus

Abstract The volatile oils and acetone extracts of Anethum graveolens, Ppiper nigrum, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Carum copticum, Curcuma longa and Nigella sativa were tested for antiviral activity against papaya ring spot poty virus, using Chenopodium amaranticolor coste et Reyn, a local lesion host. The volatile oils of all the tested spices showed significant inhibitory activity (25–100%) at different dilutions. The volatile oils Cuminum cyminum, Carum copticum, Nigella sativa and Curcuma longa were found to be most effective among all the tested oils. Acetone extract of Carum copticum, Curcuma longa, Nigella sativa and Foeniculum vulgare showed better antiviral activity as compared to other tested extracts.