CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF CENTELLA ASIATICA L. BY GC-MS ANALYSIS

Undrala Sushen* and Awanija Chouhan

ABSTRACT

Centella asiatica (L.) (Umbelliferae), commonly known as gotukola or jalbrahmi in india. Centella asiatica (L.) is widely used for many pharmacological purposes in folk medicine, Ayurvedic, siddha, unani and now a days the compounds of Centella asiatica (L.) are also using in modern medicine to treat diseases related to nervous system, muscular system and blood vascular system etc. Centella asiatica (L.) is also used for treating Alzheimer’s diseases, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. The extract was found to have neuroprotective ability through modifying a key signaling pathways and events concerned with neuro-degeneration. The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (L) exihibits considerable antibacterial, antifungal, anti tumor, antioxidant and many more activities. The present investigation has been carried out for the phytochemical study of leaf extract of Centella asiatica (L.). The essential oil is extracted by hydro distillation using Clevenger apparatus. The oil yield is observed to be 0.7 mL in 1 Kg. The essential oil is analyzed by GC and GC-MS instrumentation. Around 64 volatile compounds were identified from the essential oil of Centella asiatica (L.) P-Cymene (35%) is the predominant compound in the leaf essential oil of Centella asiatica (L.).

Keywords: Centella asiatica (L.), Essential oil, Clevenger apparatus, GC-MS analysis.