Abstract
Large cardamom <em>(Amomum subulatum)</em> is native to Sikkim Himalaya and is important cash crop grown under the forest canopy. It thrives well between altitudes of 600 to 2000 m having an annual rainfall of 2500 to 5000 mm. Due to similar climatic condition and economic potential of the species, its cultivation was also started in Uttarakhand. Present study was design to analysis <em>the</em> chemical composition of essential oil and major compounds present in essential oil of capsule of A.<em>subulatum</em> grown in different agro-climatic region of Uttarakhand. The essential oil of 07 plant sample collected from different agro-climatic zones of Uttarakhand was analyzed through Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS).The aroma analysis of chemicals present in essential oil was also carried out by two-fold, step wise dilution with dichloromethane. Oil yield was found between 2.5% to 3% for the sample of different agro-climatic regions. A total of 31 compounds were identified through Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. 1-8 Cineol with 68% to 82.0% was the most dominant compound in all the samples. Other major compounds are 4-trimethyl (1.87% to 4.82%), β-pinene (1.88% to 3.56%), β-Terpineol (1.21% to 3.83%), Nerolidol (0.62% to 2.82%), DL limonene (1.01% to 2.51%) and Limonene (0.98% to 3.82%). Presence of higher concentration of essential oil (%) in all analyzed sample of Uttarakhand indicated that the species grown in Uttarakhand is may be of higher genotype. The GC-MS analysis of essential oil indicates quantitative variations within intra-specific and may attribute to the micro-climate under which the species grown.
Highlights
Amomum subulatum Roxb. is commonly known as large cardamom or Nepal cardamom
Light yellowish color essential oil was obtained with highest yield of 3.0 percent w/v in Guhad (Chamoli) sample followed by 2.9 percent in Singot (Uttarakashi), 2.7 each in Parkandi (Rudraprayag), Sema (Tehri) and Kwiti (Pithoragarh), 2.6 in Lamgarha (Almora) and 2.5 in Dasholi (Mandal) (Figure 1)
On the basis of oil yield in the A. subulatum grown in Guhad (Chamoli) was found to be of higher quality. This may be attributed to the presence of better environmental conditions present in Uttarakhand for the growth of the species
Summary
Amomum subulatum Roxb. (family, Zingiberaceae) is commonly known as large cardamom or Nepal cardamom. The plant is well known for spice and medicinally useful as carminative, stomachic, diuretic, cardiac stimulant, acknowledged as boon to the Himalaya inhabitants[2,3]. It is cultivated commercially in India, Nepal, China and Bhutan. Assessment of Intra-Specific Variation in Essential Oil Composition in Amomum subulatum Roxb. Commercial cultivation of A. subulatum in Uttarakhand may inevitable leads to maintain the quality of essential oil in terms of chemical composition and presence major compounds in capsule. This study was carried out to assess the intra-specific variation in essential oil compositions and major molecules of A. subulatum grown in different agro-climatic regions of Uttarakhand, India
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