Mini-Review: Extraction of Patchouli Oil from Pogostemon cablin Benth. Leaves

Abstract

Pogostemon cablin Benth. var ‘Sidikalang’ leaves are the main source of patchouli oil which is used in the cosmetics and perfume industry because of its better fixative nature and provides the foreign exchange of around 60 % of Indonesia’s essential oil export revenues and is the largest patchouli oil supplier in the world with a contribution of 90 %. But apparently, several studies found that patchouli oil also has pharmacological activity such as aromatherapy, anti-influenza, antioxidants, and anti-microbial. This proves that leaves patchouli oil can be used as alternative medicine. Patchouli oil is composed of 20 main constituents, but the most important role as a determinant of the quality of patchouli oil is sesquiterpene patchouli alcohol (PA). The right extraction method is the most important factor so that the quality of patchouli oil is well maintained during the extraction process. Some methods that have been used for patchouli oil extraction include soxhlet, hydrodistillation, microwave-assisted hydrodistillation, microwave–air hydrodistillation, and water–bubble distillation. Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and water–bubble distillation methods are more efficient methods for patchouli oil extraction. The microwave-assisted hydrodistillation method produces a yield of 1.9437 to 2.7227 % with a PA content of 26.32 % within 120 min to 126 min, and the water–bubble distillation method produces a yield of 2.40 % with a PA content of 61.53 % within 360 min.