viridiflorol and patchouli-alcohol

Valeriana jatamansi Jones is an important medicinal plant that grows wild in Himachal Pradesh, India. Molecular and biochemical diversity among 13 natural populations from Himachal Pradesh was assessed using RAPD and GC-MS to know the extent of existing variation. A total of seven genetically diverse groups have been identified based on RAPD analysis which corroborated well with the analysis based on chemical constituents. The essential oil yield ranged from 0.6% to 1.66% (v/w). A negative correlation between patchouli alcohol and viridiflorol, the two major valued constituents, limits the scope of their simultaneous improvement. However, other few populations like Chamba-II and Kandi-I were found promising for viridiflorol and patchouli alcohol, respectively. The analysis of chemical constitution of oil of the populations from a specific region revealed predominance of specific constituents indicating possibility of their collection/selection for specific end uses like phytomedicines. The prevalence of genetically diverse groups along with sufficient chemical diversity in a defined region clearly indicates the role of ecology in the maintenance of evolution of this species. Sufficient molecular and biochemical diversity detected among natural populations of this species will form basis for the future improvement.

Topics: DNA Primers; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Genetic Variation; India; Oils, Volatile; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Sesquiterpenes; Terpenes; Valerian

To explore the diversity in the essential oil yield and composition of Valeriana jatamansi Jones (syn. V. wallichii DC) growing wild in Uttarakhand (Western Himalaya), 17 populations were collected from different locations and grown under similar conditions. Comparative results showed considerable variations in the essential oil yield and composition. The essential oil yield varied from 0.21 to 0.46% in the fresh roots and rhizomes of different populations of V. jatamansi. Analysis of the essential oils by GC (RI) and GC/MS and the subsequent classification by principal component analysis (PCA) resulted in six clusters with significant variations in their terpenoid composition. Major components in the essential oils of the different populations were patchouli alcohol (1; 13.4-66.7%), α-bulnesene (3; <0.05-23.5%), α-guaiene (4; 0.2-13.3%), guaiol (5; <0.05-12.2%), seychellene (6; 0.2-9.9%) viridiflorol (<0.05-7.3%), and β-gurjunene (7; 0.0-7.1%). V. jatamansi populations with contents of 1 higher than 60% may be utilized commercially in perfumery.

Topics: Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; Chromatography, Gas; Cyclopropanes; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; India; Oils, Volatile; Plant Roots; Principal Component Analysis; Rhizome; Sesquiterpenes; Sesquiterpenes, Guaiane; Terpenes; Valerianaceae