Chemical Profile Characterization of Artemisia annua L. Essential Oils From South India Through GC-FID and GC-MS Analyses

This investigation examined the essential oils isolated from the shoot biomass of Artemisia annua var. Jeevanraksha, a medicinal-cum-aromatic plant grown in Bangalore (Karnataka) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), south India. GC-FID, GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of 51 (Bangalore) and 41 (Hyderabad) compounds accounting for 93.8 % and 93.9 % of the essential oils, respectively. The principal constituents of Bangalore and Hyderabad essential oils, respectively were: myrcene (8.3 %, 15.4 %), 1,8- cineole (9.7 %, 17.2 %) and camphor (42.6 %, 34.2 %). Other components were: alpha-pinene (2.8 %, 2.6 %), camphene (3.4 %, 3.9 %), sabinene (1.6 %, 2.7 %), artemisia alcohol (0.7 %, 4.3 %), camphene hydrate (0.5 %, 4.1 %), terpinen-4-ol (1.1 %, 0.2 %), alpha-terpineol (1.0 %, 1.3 %), beta-caryophyllene (2.3 %, 0.4 %), beta-selinene (3.9 %, 0.4 %) and beta-eudesmol (1.7 %, 0.2 %). Bangalore essential oil had higher percentages of aliphatic ketones (43.3 %), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (9.9 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (4.3 %). Hyderabad essential oil contained greater concentrations of monoterpene hydrocarbons (25.7 %) and oxygenated monoterpenes (65.5 %).