Studies on extraction of essential oil from patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

Abstract

There are several aromatic herb plants available today that produces essential oils, the plant known as patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is one among these. The experiment was conducted in Factorial Completely Randomized Design (FCRD) for different parameters. The present research was carried out to identify the correct stage and season of harvesting of patchouli for better recovery of essential oil. The experiment consists of two treatments, which include plant parts of patchouli and sub treatments which include different seasons. The plant parts of patchouli consist the leaves and stems and three seasons i. e. rainy season, winter season and summer season were studied. The variation of different seasons on the recovery of essential oil of patchouli leaves and stems was calculated. From the present investigation, it was observed that the maximum essential oil recovery was observed in leaves as compared to stems, also the winter season gives maximum essential oil yield followed by rainy season and minimum in summer season. The major chemical compound of patchouli is patchouli alcohol. The patchouli alcohol was present higher amount in leaves essential oil as compared to stem essential oil of patchouli. The winter season gives maximum amount of patchouli alcohol chemical compounds than rainy and summer season. Keywords: