Novel high value elemicin-rich germplasm of lemon grass (Cymbopogon khasianus (Hack)Stapf(ex Bor) from North East India

Abstract

Genus Cymbopogon is a valuable medicinal and aromatic grass of the world. The objective of the experiment was to identify elemicin rich genotype of Cymbopogon khasianus. Elemicin is widely used as a perfumery chemical as well as starting material for the synthesis of mescaline, an important alkaloid. Moreover it can also be used in confectionery, condiments, non-alcoholic beverages etc. In this experiment total forty eight accessions of Cymbopogon khasianus were collected from different parts of Meghalaya and planted in complete randomized block design with three replications at experimental farm of CSIR-NEIST in the year 2013.Morphological data recording and its oil constituents were analysed during the year 2013–14 and 2014–15. On the basis of two years selection trial data a new and distinct elemicin rich strain of Cymbopogon khasianus was identified and named as Jor Lab L-10. This new genotype was planted in the year 2015–16 and 2016–17 in multi-location trials at four different locations and the results were found to be stable and contented. The average oil yield of all multi-location trial was 0.40% which comprises of 70% elemicin content and 175% superior in the term of elemicin content from the check variety. Essential oil was extracted through hydro distillation method and the quantification was done by GC and GC–MS instrument. In GC and GC–MS analysis it was found that elemicin was the major component of essential oil while cis-asarone, β-ocimene, methyl eugenol, limonene, germacrene-D, transneral acetate, camphene, α-pinene, geranyl acetate, caryophyllene and trans-β- farnesene etc. were the minor compounds. Till date none of the elemicin rich (>70%) variety of lemon grass is reported and we first time identified a novel elemicin rich variety.