Chemical composition of essential oil from the leaves of Gmelina asiatica L.

Abstract

In the present investigation essential oils from the leaves of Gmelina asiatica L. was extracted and its fatty acids composition was determined by GC-MS analysis. Leaves of Gmelina asiatica were collected, shade dried and its essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation method using Clevenger apparatus. Analysis was done using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer apparatus, the constituents as well as the percentage of components present in the oil. Eight bio-active compounds were identified as E-11- Hexadecanoic acid (3.69%); Hexadecanoic acid (14.10%); Linoleic acid (14.57%); (E)-9-Octadecanoic acid (56.65%); Heptadecanoic acid (10.10%); 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid (0.27%); Benzene, (1-butylhexadecyl) (0.24%) and Cholesterol trimethylsilyl ether (0.37%). The bioactive compounds resulted from the leaves were used to cure various ailments by the traditional practitioners.