GC-MS Analysis of Volatile Organic Constituents of Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants from the Western Ghats of India: Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce., Heliotropium indicum L. and Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.

Abstract

The present study explored essential oil constituents of the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine and growing wild in the Western Ghats region of India, which is one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots. The hydro distilled essential oils of Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce. (Asteraceae), Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) and Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. (Tiliaceae) were analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Thirty-six, twenty-seven, and fifty constituents were identified from the essential oils of B. lanceolaria, H. indicum, and T. rhomboidea, respectively comprising 97.3% (B. lanceolaria), 98.2% (H. indicum) and 97.6% (T. rhomboidea) of the total oil constituents. The major compounds of B. lanceolaria, H. indicum, and T. rhomboidea were identified as β-pinene (82.3%), methyl salicylate (54.3%), and β-caryophyllene (28.9%), respectively. The essential of B. lanceolaria was found to be rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (90.4%), while H. indicum and T. rhomboidea oils were rich in phenyl derivative (72.8%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (69.5%) type constituents, respectively. The common compounds viz., terpin-4-ol and eugenol were identified in the essential oils of B. lanceolaria, H. indicum, and T. rhomboidea.