Medicinal Plants - International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries

The essential oils, obtained by hydro-distillation of shade dried leaves, seeded leaves and pericarp of Zanthoxylum armatum were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) led to the identification of 23, 21 and 24 different constituents, representing 99.5%, 99.3% and 99.2% of the total oils. The volatile oil of leaves afforded non-terpenic acyclic ketones, notably 2-undecanone (65.6%), 2-tridecanone (16.6%) as major constituents followed by cis-fernesol (6.3%) and limonene (3.7%). 2-Undecanone (30.9%), linalool (39.4%), β-phellandrene (5.2%) and 2-tridecanone (8.8%) were determined in a high proportion in seeded leaves, whereas in pericarp volatile oil, linalool (71.2%) followed by limonene (7.6%), β-phellandrene (4.4%) and methyl cinnamate (10.4%) were analysed as major components. The volatile oils of all samples constituted lesser amount of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons (0.8–3.6%) whereas oxygenated monoterpenoids showed larger amount in seeded leaves (43.8%) and pericarp oil (83.2%). However, the non-terpenoids were present in appreciable amounts in leaves (82.2%) and seeded leaves (39.7%). Thus, it is concluded that leaves and pericarp of fruits oil are the major source of 2-undecanone and linalool, respectively while seeded leaves revealed good source of both these compounds. Therefore, the leaves, seeded leaves and pericarp of the Z. armatum can be used as a commercial source for the isolation of these individual compounds as a valuable perfumery and flavoring ingredients in industries.