Screening and Profiling of Sandal Seeds collected from Provenances of Karnataka

Sandalwood trees are the only source of precious natural sandal oil obtained from the heartwood. The tree develops heartwood over a period of twenty years. However, flowering and seed set are observed within two years of planting. Seeds serve as a potential source of an important therapeutic compound and therefore ensures steady income to the growers. Indian Sandalwood and Australian sandalwood are the source of a unique fatty acid called Ximenynic or Santalbic acid. Sandal grows in abundance in many states of South India. Santalum album or East Indian Sandalwood cultivation is on the rise in Karnataka. As the Indian Sandalwood (S.album) is grown in several parts of Karnataka state, a study was taken up to find out the relative content of Ximenynic acid from different provenances, besides comparing with the Australian Sandalwood. Seeds were collected from different provenances of Karnataka. Using hexane as a solvent extraction of seeds were carried. Seed were evaluated for their physico-chemical and fatty acid profiles. Since, Santalum spicatum, the Australian sandalwood is generally used as a source of Ximenynic acid. The present work has established the superiority of S.album seeds over S. spicatum with respect to Ximenynic acid content. Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis of the fatty acid profiles of six samples of Santalum album L. recorded higher percent of Ximenynic acid as compared to Santalum spicatum. Therefore, Santalum album L. seed oil can be used as a potential source of intermediate income for farmers besides being a natural source of an anti-ageing ingredient.