%-3
Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology
Research Article
Chemical composition of the leaf essential oils of Murraya koenigii (L.)
Spreng and Murraya paniculata (L.)
Jack
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Chemical composition of the leaf essential oils of Murraya koenigii
(L.) Spreng and Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack
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Received:
Accepted:
Available Online:
16 May 2008
19 May 2008
19 May 2008
DOI: 10.3329/bjp.v3i2.841
Cite this article:
Chowdhury JU, Bhuiyan MNI, Yusuf
M. Chemical composition of the leaf
essential oils of Murraya koenigii (L.)
Spreng and Murraya paniculata (L.)
Jack. Bangladesh J Pharmacol. 2008; 3:
59-63.
The chemical composition of the leaf oils of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng and
M. paniculata (L.) Jack from Bangladesh was studied by gas chromatography
mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). M. koenigii oil contained 39 compounds of which
the major is 3-carene (54.2%) followed by caryophyllene (9.5%). Oil of M.
paniculata contained 58 compounds of which the major are caryophyllene
oxide (16.6%), β-caryophyllene (11.8%), spathulenol (10.2%), β-elemene
(8.9%), germacrene D (6.9%) and cyclooctene, 4-methylene-6-(1-propenylidene) (6.4%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and
quantitatively.
Introduction
A systematic study on the medicinal and aromatic
plants is being carried out in Bangladesh. Among these
plants one finds Murraya koenigi (L.) Spreng and M.
paniculata (L.) Jack of the Rutaceae family. Murraya
koenigii (L.) Spreng is a small strong smelling perennial
shrub or small tree commonly found in forests as
undergrowth, cultivated in India for its aromatic leaves
and for ornament. Leaves are used as a condiment in
the preparation of curry powder, pickle, chutney,
sausages and seasonings (Anonymous, 1962; Hiremath
et al., 1998). The flavor and fragrance of leaves retain
even after drying (Omankutty Amma et al., 1984).
Leaves relieve nausea, indigestion, vomiting; eaten as a
cure for diarrhea and dysentery (Anonymous, 1962;
Ghani, 2003). Essential oil composition of leaves has
been studied by various workers. The major constituents responsible for the aroma and flavor have been
reported as pinene, sabinene, caryophyllene, cadinol
and cadinene (Anonymous, 1962; Nigam and Purohit,
1961; Prakash and Natarajan, 1974; Macleod and
Pieries, 1982; Hiremath et al., 1998). Raina et al. (2002)
reported four genetically divers chemotypes (1) βpinene (70%), β-caryophyllene (6.5%) and α-pinene
(5.4%), (2) α-pinene (65.7%), β-pinene (13.4%) and βphellandrene (7.4%), (3) β-caryophyllene (53.9%),
aromadendrene (10.7%) and α-selinene (6.3%), (4) βphellandrene (30.2%), β-caryophyllene (24.2%), αpinene (15%), (E)-β-ocimene (5%) and aromadendrene
(4.5%) as major constituents from various parts of India.
Walde et al. (2005) reported α-pinene (52%) and cis-βocimene (34%) as major constituents in Hyderabad
plants.
M. paniculata (L) Jack. syn. Chalcas paniculata L. Chalcas
exotica (L.) Millsp. is a very variable evergreen shrubby
plant with small white flowers, small oblong fruits and
hard wood, planted in gardens as an ornamental in
many areas of the country. Leaves are stimulant and
astringent and are used in the treatment of diarrhea,
dysentery and diseases of teeth and gum; useful against
rheumatism, coughs and hysteria (Anonymous, 1962;
Chopra et al., 1956; Ghani, 2003). The essential oils
showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic
activities (Dash et al., 2004). Sawangjaroen et al. (2006)
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60
Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2008; 3: 59-63
reported, it showed anti-amoebic activities. The leaves
and other tissues have both stimulant and astringent
properties and are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery,
cuts, joint pain, body aches (Parrotta, 2001), venereal
disease (Kinoshita and Firman, 1996), and as an
abortive (Xiao and Wang, 1991). In addition to essential
oils, tissues of orange jasmine contain the indole
alkaloid yuehchukene (Xiao and Wang, 1991) and at
least eight highly oxygenated flavones (Kinoshita and
Firman, 1996), leaves yield oil, which contains sesquiterpenes (l-cadinene), α-sesquiterpene alcohol and
methyl anthranilate (Anonymous, 1962; Chopra et al.,
1956). Nureni et al. (2004) reported, the principal
constituents of the leaf oil were β-cyclocitral (22.9%),
methylsalicylate (22.4%), trans-nerolidol (11.7%), αcubebene (7.9%), (-)-cubenol (6.8%), β-cubebene (5.8%)
and isogermacrene (5.7%). The most prominent
compounds were β-caryophyllene (24.1%), with lesser
amounts of germacrene D (11.9%) and bicyclogermacrene (11.8%). Some reports of the chemical
composition of the leaf oil of M. paniculata of Asian or
Australian origin have appeared (Garg and Nigam,
1970; Qiang et al., 1988; Brophy et al., 1994). In our
study the abundance of 3-carene was the highest. It has
various medicinal uses (Jeong et al., 2007; Lastbom et
al., 1998). On the other hand, M. paniculata contained
abundance of caryophyllene oxide which has antifungal
activities (Yang et al., 1999). So, the present study deals
with the investigation of the chemical components in
oils obtained from leaf of M. koenigii and M. paniculata
grown in Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods
Plant material
Fresh leaves of M. koenigii and M. paniculata were
collected from the plants grown in the campus of BCSIR
Laboratory, Chittagong during June 2007. Two-voucher
specimen (Y-325) was deposited in the herbarium of
BCSIR Laboratory, Chittagong.
Extraction of essential oil
Leaves were harvested and air-dried for about one
week. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation for 4
hours in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The oil yields
(calculated per weight of dried material) were 0.5% for
M. paniculata and 1.0% for M. koenigii. The oil samples
were stored at 0°C in air-tight containers after drying
them over anhydrous sodium sulfate for gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analyses.
GC-MS analysis
The essential oil from leaves of M. koenigii and M.
paniculata were analyzed by GC-MS electron impact
ionization (EI) method on GC-17A gas chromatograph
(Shimadzu) coupled to a GC-MS QP 5050A mass
spectrometer (Shimadzu); fused silica capillary column
(30 m x 2.5 mm; 0.3 mm film thickness), coated with DB
-1 (J&W); column temperature 100°C (2 min) to 250°C at
the rate of 3°C/min; carrier gas, helium at constant
pressure of 90Kpa. Acquisition parameters full scan;
scan range 40-350 amu.
Identification of the compounds
Compound identification was done by comparing the
NIST library data of the peaks with those reported in
literature, mass spectra of the peaks with literature
data. Percentage composition was computed from GC
peak areas on BP-I column without applying correction
factors.
Results and Discussion
The essential oils from the leaves of M. koenigii and M.
paniculata were analyzed by GC-MS presented in Table
I. M. koenigii oil contains 39 compounds of which the
major is 3-carene (54.2%) followed by caryophyllene
(9.5%). Other notable compounds in the M. koenigii oil
are α-thujene (1.5% ), allyl(methoxy)dimethylsilane
(2.6%), β-myrcene (3.2%), α-terpinene (2.4%), g-terpinene (2.7%), cis-sabinenehydrate (1.5%), 4-terpineol
(2.8%), β-elemene (1.9%), α-caryophyllene (2.8%), gelemene (2.96%), caryophyllene oxide (1.02%) and 3phenylbutyrophenone (1.15% ). Oil of M. paniculata
contains 58 compounds of which the major are caryophyllene oxide (16.63% ), β-caryophyllene (11.81% ),
spathulenol (10.21%), β-elemene (8.94%), germacrene D
(6.95%) and cyclooctene, 4-methylene-6-(1-pro-penylidene) (6.37% ). Other major compounds in the M.
paniculata oil are cyclohexene, 5,6-dietheyl-3-methyl
(3.30%), d-elemene (3.57%), α-cubebene (2.96%), retinal
(1%), α-caryophyllene (3.13%), copaene (2.33%), cubenol (2.36%), nerolidyl acetate (1.20%), 12-oxabi-cyclo
(9.1.0)dodeca-3,7-diene,1,5,5,8–tetramethyl (2.1%), eremophilene (1.54%), ledol (2.2%) and aromadendrene
oxide (1.5%). The presence of 3-carene as major compound in M. koenigii is not reported from elsewhere,
completely differs from those reported by Raina et al.
(2002) and Walde et al. (2005), where pinene, caryophyllenes and phellandrenes were the predominant
compounds. This oil may be treated as a natural source
of 3-carene, which may be studied for any bioactive
properties for therapeutic uses. Also may serve as a
useful compound of flavors and fragrances. The oil of
M. paniculata also found different from the reports
(Anonymous, 1962; Chopra et al., 1956). The study
reveals that composition of two oils differs from the
earlier reports and may, therefore be treated as different
chemotypes. On the basis of above fact it may be
concluded that M. koenigii and M. paniculata, growing
widely in Bangladesh, may be utilized as a source for
Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2008; 3: 59-63
61
Table I
Constituents of leaf essential oil from M. koenigii and M. paniculata
Compounds from M. koenigii
%
Compounds from M. paniculata
%
Sabinene
0.1
3-Hexen-1-ol, formate
0.1
1
α-Thujene
1.5
2
3-Carene
54.2
3
Camphene
0.1
Limonene
0.3
4
Allyl(methoxy)dimethylsilane
2.6
Linalool
0.1
5
β-Myrcene
3.2
Cyclohexene,3,4-diethenyl-3-mehyl
0.6
6
α-Phellandrene
0.1
Cyclohexene,5,6-diethenyl-3-methyl
3.3
7
α-Terpinene
2.4
Azulene
0.1
8
m-Cymene
0.3
Ocimene
0.1
9
Limonene
0.8
cis-3-Hexenyl valerate
0.2
10
β-Phellandrene
0.5
2-Cyceohexen-1-one, 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)
0.1
11
Eucalyptol
0.1
1H-Imidazole
0.1
12
(E)-Ocimene
0.2
d-Elemene
3.6
13
g-Terpinene
2.7
α-Cubebene
3.0
14
cis-Sabinenehydrate
1.5
Germacrene D
6.9
15
Linalool
0.2
3,9-Dodecadiene
0.1
16
4-Terpineol
2.8
b-Caryophyllene
11.8
17
Naphthalene
0.1
Caryophyllene oxide
16.6
18
Terpinyl acetate
0.1
Cyclooctene, 4-methylene-6-(1-propenylidene)
6.4
19
cis-Piperitol
0.1
Retinal
1.0
20
Isobornyl acetate
0.1
α-Caryophyllene
3.1
21
d-Elemene
0.04
β-Humulene
0.2
22
Neryl propionate
0.04
Copaene
2.3
23
1-Chloroheptacosane
0.1
g-Elemene
0.3
24
β-Elemene
1.9
Cubenol
2.4
25
Caryophyllene
9.5
α-Bulnesene
0.1
26
α-Caryophyllene
2.8
Calamenene
0.3
27
Eudesma-4(14),11-diene
0.2
3-Tetradecynoic acid
0.2
28
g-Elemene
2.0
Lanceol, cis
0.3
29
d-Cadinene
0.1
β-Vatirenine
0.1
30
Nerolidyl acetate
0.2
β-Elemene
8.9
31
Caryophyllene oxide
1.0
Nerolidyl acetate
1.2
32
0.1
Alloaromadendrene oxide
0.3
33
12-Oxabicyclo[9.1.0]dodeca-3,7-diene,
1,5,5,8-tetramethyl1,4-Methanoazulen-9-ol, decahydro1,5,5,8a-tetramethyl
Compounds from M. koenigii
0.1
Spathulenol
34
Cubenol
0.1
D-Verbenone
0.6
35
0.1
Pyrimdine-2(1H) thione, 3,4-dihydro -6-methyl, 4-phenyl
0.5
36
2(1H)-Naphthalenone, 4a,5,6,7,8,8ahexahydro-4a,8a-dimethylα-Cadinol
0.1
3-Carene
0.9
37
Juniper camphor
0.5
2.1
38
3-Phenylbutyrophenone
1.2
12-Oxabicyclo(9,1,0) dodeca-3,7-diene,1,5,5,8 - tetramethyl
Globulol
39
Phytol
0.9
Eremophilene
1.5
-4-methanol,5-methyl
10.2
Compounds from M. paniculata
0.2
Bangladesh J Pharmacol 2008; 3: 59-63
62
Table I
Constituents of leaf essential oil from M. koenigii and M. paniculata (Cont.)
Compounds from M. koenigii
%
Compounds from M. paniculata
%
40
2(1H)
Naphthalenone, 4a,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro, 4a,8adimethyl
0.3
41
Tau-Muurolol
0.9
42
Ledol
2.2
43
Aromadendrene oxide
1.5
44
α-Calaconene
0.3
45
Longifolenealdehyde
0.6
46
11-Hexadecyn-1-ol
0.2
47
Cycloisolongifolene, 8-hydroxyendo
0.3
48
Longipinocarveol, trans
0.2
49
Carveol
0.1
50
1-Cyclohexene-1-ethanol, 2,6,6-trimethyl
0.1
51
1-Methyl verbenol
0.2
52
Cyclopropane, 1-bromo-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-1prop-1-ynyl
0.2
53
Corymbolone
0.1
54
0.1
55
2(4a,8-Dimethyl-1, 3,3,4,4a,5,6,7-octahydro-naphthalene2-yl) -prop-2-en-1-ol
Ledene alcohol
56
Aristolene oxide
0.3
57
6-Isopropenyl-4,8a-dimethyl 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a, octahydro
naphthalen-2-ol
Longifolene-[12]-epoxide
1.0
58
0.7
0.1
the isolation of natural 3-carene and caryophyllene
oxide respectively.
Jeong JG, Kim YS, Min TY, Kim SH. Low concentration of 3carene stimulates the differentiation of mouse osteoblastic
MC3T3-E1 subclone 4-cells. Phytotherapy Res. 2007; 22: 1822.
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Author Info
Md. Nazrul Islam Bhuiyan (Principal contact)
e-mail: nazrul119@yahoo.com
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