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Essential oils obtained by the hydrodistillation ofAlpinia calcarataandAlpinia galangarhizomes were analyzed by Gas chromatography-Mass spectroscopy. Fifty constituents comprising of 94.7 % of rhizome oil were obtained fromA. calcarataand fifty one components of 93.1 % ofA. galangawere identified. The major components in theA. calcaratawere α- and β-fenchyl acetates (12.9 and 9.7 % respectively), cubenol (15.0 %) and 1,8-cineole (12.1 %) and that ofA. galangawere 1, 8 -cineole (32.9 %), α-terpineol (12.7 %) and germacrene-D (6.1 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuma aromatica Salisb.is an aromatic medicinal plant belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. In the present study essential oil from the rhizome ofC. aromaticaanalyzed by GC-MS. The major constituents in the oil were xanthorrhizol (26.3 %) followed by ar-curcumene (19.5 %) and di-epi-alpha-cedrene (16.5 %). The rhizome extracted sequentially with different solvents (hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) and evaluated its antioxidant activity. The dichloromethane extract showed maximum antioxidant potential and remarkable free radical quenching property. The solvent extracts were also screened for their antidiabetic activity via inhibition of α-amylase, and antiglycation assays. In α-amylase inhibition and antiglycation studies, dichloromethane extract got maximum activity with an IC50value of 8.97±0.3 µg/ml and (561.37±2 µg/ml) respectively compared to other extracts. These significant activities of DCM were relevant parameters in the management of type 2 diabetes. The better activity of dichloromethane extract might be due to the high amount of phenolic compounds (10.9 %) and flavonoids (6.7 %) present in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activities of curry leaf extracts (Hexane, Chloroform, Ethanol, Water and Aqueous(50%) ethanol) at ambient and hot conditions, were determined by DPPH, ABTS, and TRP assays. The total phenolic content was in the order EW1>W1>C1>EW2>H1>E2>W2>H2. It was observed that the EW1 had the maximum total phenolic content of 50.1% and 82% RSA at 10 μg/ml level (DPPH) and100% RSA (ABTS) at 10μg/ml and at hot conditions (EW2) had less TPC(28.7%),and 43% RSA by DPPH and 53.6% by ABTS assays. Other hot extracts had fewer activities than ambient extracts. The study showed that extracts at ambient temperature had higher antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four major cultivars of black pepper from Kerala viz. Aimpiriyan, Narayakodi Neelamundi and Uthirankotta were analyzed for a period of three consecutive seasons for their oil composition. Fifty-five compounds were identified in the oils by GC and GC/MS. The main components of Aimpiriyan oil were limonene (19.8%-22.5%), β-pinene (9.3-23.9%), limonene (8.3-18%) and β-caryophyllene (20.3-34.7%). Narayakodi oil contained as major compounds sabinene (4.4-24.6 %) limonene (9.5-19.5%), β-pinene (4.8-15.6%), β-caryophyllene (29.8-52.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (2.3-3.9%). Neelamundi oil contained α-pinene (4.7-6.5%), sabinene (23.2-27.3%), β-pinene (7.8-11.3%), limonene (12.9-18.6%) and β-caryophyllene (17.0-31.0%). The oil from Uthirankotta contained α-pinene (9.1-14.6%), β-pinene (9.3-12.5%), o-3-carene (6.7-8.5%), limonene (13.3-19.5%), β-caryophyllene (25.1-37.8%) and caryophyl-lene oxide (0.6-2.7 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two major cultivars of black pepper from Kerala viz. Vellanamban and Sreekara and one Indonesian cultivar grown in Kutching in Kerala were analyzed for a period of three consecutive seasons for their oil composition. Fifty-five compounds were identified in the oils by GC and GC/MS. The main components of vellanamban oil were sabinene (3.9-18.8%), &beta-pinene (3.9-10.9%), limonene (8.3-19.8%) and &beta-caryophyllene (28.4- 32.9%). Sreekara oil contained as major compounds β-pinene (0-11.2%), limonene (20.1-22.1%) and β-caryophyllene (16.8-23.1 %). Kutching oil contained α-pinene(2.3-5.4%), sabinene (6.7-13.3%), limonene (14.5-17.5%) and β-caryophyllene (20.8-39.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical compositions of the essential oils of three species of the genus Globba (Zingiberaceae) (Globba cernua Baker, Globba marantina L. and Globba ophioglossa Wight) were analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. β-Caryophyllene(19.3-24.2%) was found to be the major compound of the oils. Other major compounds detected in the oils were α-humulene, (Z)-nerolidol and (Z,Z)-farnesol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-diabetic capacity of Curcuma longa volatile oil in terms of its ability to inhibit glucosidase activities was evaluated. Turmeric volatile oils inhibited glucosidase enzymes more effectively than the reference standard drug acarbose. Drying of rhizomes was found to enhance α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 1.32-0.38 μg/ml) and α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 64.7-34.3 μg/ml) inhibitory capacities of volatile oils. Ar-Turmerone, the major volatile component in the rhizome also showed potent α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 0.28 μg) and α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 24.5 μg) inhibition.

Volatile oils from two most popular cultivars from Sikkim namely, Bhaisa and Majulay, were isolated, characterised by analytical GC and GC-MS. Sixty constituents accounting for 94.9% and 92.6% of the Bhaisa and Majulay oils were identified. The major compounds of Bhaisa oil were geranyl acetate (18.8%), zingiberene (16.3%) and geranial (8.2%) and those of Majulay oil were zingiberene (19.8%) and geranial (16.5%). Compared to other ginger cultivar oils, the Bhaisa oil had higher content of oxygenated compounds (43.1%). This is the first report on the essential oils from Sikkim ginger cultivars.