Analysis of essential oil of eaglewood tree (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.) by gas chromatography mass spectrometry BJP

The present research has been performed on black pepper of two cultivars to evaluate their nutritional quality and safety issue on the basis of proximate, chemical and pharmacological properties. The proximate results were compiled with the standard USDA limits. K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Al and Se were detected as major elements, whereas the toxic elements were found within the recommended limit. The GC‐MS analysis of the essential oils showed the presence of δ‐3‐carene (32.61%) as the major component in Kerala cultivar whereas β‐caryophyllene (18.39%) was the major components in Indigenous cultivar. The IC50 values of DPPH antioxidant activity of the essential oils were found to be 44.16 and 22.88 mg/mL in Indigenous and Kerala cultivars, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils showed good activity in both cultivars. The LC50 values of the brine shrimp cytotoxic activity were 1.03 and 1.21 μg/mL in Indigenous and Kerala cultivars, respectively. Practical applications Spice quality is an important issue in the food industries as well as export markets. Due to the toxicological effect of imported spices, much attention has been paid to the safety issue especially on cytotoxicity and toxic metal contaminations. The present study reveals that both cultivars possess rich amount of nutritional components, essential minerals, phyto and flavouring components in their essential oils and recommended level of toxic elements as well as decent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study promises to scaffold a new window for exportation of quality spice and confer potential for use in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

In this study , various parameters on nutritional and physico-chemical characteristics of eight different fruits (five minor and three major fruits), namely melon, guava, papaya, karanda, burmese-grape, velvet apple, wood-apple and pomelo of Bangladesh were analyzed to determine the edible portion of whole fruit, pH, titratable acidity, moisture, total soluble solid, reducing sugar, total sugar, crude fibre, total carbohydrate, total protein, total fat, total energy, vitamin C, ash , sodium, potassium, iron and arsenic content. The largest amount of iron, 5.34 mg/100g was observed in Burmese-grape. The pomelo contained the highest amount of potassium, 233.07mg/100g and the lowest amount of sodium, 2.25mg/100g. The maximum amount of fibre, 6.21% was found in wood-apple and the richest quantity of vitamin C, 80mg/100g was found in guava. In general arsenic was not found in karanda, burmese grape, guava, pomelo, wood-apple, and papaya and only negligible amount of arsenic was revealed in velvet apple, 0.01 mg/kg, followed by melon, 0.005 mg/kg. Key words: Minor and major fruits, Malnutrition, Micronutrient, Bangladesh DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i3.4410 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(3),353-358, 2009