Analysis of linalool content in the inflorescence (flower) essential oil and leaf oil of Lippia alba cultivar ‘Kavach’

Abstract

Lippia alba cultivar ‘Kavach’ is an aromatic, multi-branched, trailing, deep-rooted shrub that can be planted on slopes to control soil erosion. Cuttings of this genotype were planted on the edges of field plots developed by depositing agricultural soil on the rocky terrain of Aravalli mountain range land on which the Institute is located in New Delhi. Shoots harvested several times a year in the third, fourth and fifth year from planting were sampled for leaves and flowers bearing inflorescences to determine their biomass yield. The inflorescences and leaves sampled from the harvests of third year were analyzed by GC and GC/MS for their oil quality. Altogether 55 compounds were identified in leaf and inflorescence oils; a set of 47 compounds made up 96.3% of the leaf oil and 46 compounds made up 97.0% of inflorescence oil. The concentrations of linalool and 1,8-cineole were 67.7% and 6.4% in the leaf oil, whereas these were 79.3% and 5.2%, respectively, in inflorescence oil. The inflorescence oil also contained cis- and trans-linalool oxides (2.8%). The importance of the flower oil of L. alba cultivar ‘Kavach’ as a linalool-rich oil resource is discussed in terms of traditional sources of such oil and unique features of the cultivar.