Composition of essential oils from four major cultivars of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) grown in Sikkim

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the essential constituents in four major cultivars of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.). Each sample was analysed for volatile oil content using hydro-distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The essential oil content varied from 2.70% to 1.90% and highest amount of essential oil content 2.70% was obtained from variety Golsey. The composition of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS which led to the identification of 47 compounds representing 93%-99.7% of the total oil. The major components identified in the oil were 1,8-Cineole, α-pinene, β-Pinene, α-Terpineol, α-thujene, δ-terpineol, limonene, δ-terpineol, δ- terpinene and myrcene. Out of 47 metabolites analysed it was found that 1,8-Cineole was the major component in the large cardamom oil. Among the cultivars tested, Golsey cultivar contained the highest numbers of major metabolites. Further, Ramsey cultivar was found with high percentage of 1,8-cineole.