Biological and Chemical Studies of Essential Oil and Extracts of Rhizome of Acorus calamus Linn

Abstract

The essential oil (EO) of the rhizome of Acorus calamus Linn. was isolated by using a Clevenger apparatus and extracts were prepared by cold percolation technique using the solvents hexane and methane. The chemical constituents of EO were analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. A total number of nine chemical compounds were identified and quantified occupying 100% of the total oil composition. The major chemical constituent was reported to be β-asarone (84.87%). Acid value, saponification value, and iodine number of the oil were measured and found to be 0.24 mg KOH/g, 0.42 mg KOH/g, and 31.75 g I2/100gm, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the hexane and methanol extract was examined against two bacteria by the agar well diffusion method. The hexane extract showed antibacterial activity against E. coli with a zone of inhibition(ZOI)of 10 mm, and. subtilis with ZOI of 7 mm. The methanol extract showed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis only, with a ZOI of 4 mm. Hexane and methanol extract also showed significant antifungal activity against fungi C. albicans with a ZOI of 6 mm and 5 mm, respectively.DPPH assay showed that the percentage of free radical scavenging activity increased with an increase in the concentration of the extract. The total phenolic content of the methanol extract of A. calamus was found to be 48.36 mg/g GAE.

Antifungal and Antioomycete Activities of a Curcuma longa L. Hydroethanolic Extract Rich in Bisabolene Sesquiterpenoids

“…Isoelemicin is a phenylpropanoid found in Solidago odora Aiton, Virola surinamensis (Rol.) Warb., and Acorus calamus L. [42]. Lastly, gibberellin A3 (named after the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi (Sawada) Wollenw., 1931) is a pentacyclic diterpenoid that functions as a hormone in the regulation processes of plant development and growth, which include seed development and germination, stem and root growth, cell division, and flowering time [43].…”

Chemical and biological analysis of extracts of Acorus calamus L.

“…It comes from Asia and is also found in America, Africa, and Europe. It is primarily found in the terai and hilly parts of Nepal and in wet and marshy areas [3,4].…”

Insecticidal toxicity of essential oil of Nepalese Acorus calamus (Acorales:Acoraceae) against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera:Curculionidae)

“…There were other compounds detected in minor quantities. Another Nepalese A. calamus consists of β-methyl isoeugenol, Caryophylene oxice, 6-Epishyobunone, β-Isoelemicin, β-asarone, alpho-asarone etc where β-asarone constitute about 84.87 % [ 28 ]. As β-asarone and shyobunone are the major compounds which is effective against pests, the essential oil used in this study could be potentially effective as it was evident by other studies too.…”