Journal of Research in Ecology
Journal of Research in Ecology
An International Scientific Research Journal
Original Research
Impact of environmental factors on citral concentration in the lemongrass oil distilled from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. Authors: ABSTRACT: Sangeeth Thekkan1, Citral, a terpene aldehyde in the lemongrass oil distilled from Cymbopogon Tamilselvi SS2, 1 citratus determines the market value of the oil, based on its concentration. The Venkatachalapathy A and 1 quantity of citral present in the oil depends on the environmental factors of the Paulsamy S habitats where the grass is growing. To diagnose the factors responsible for higher content of citral, lemongrass oil samples collected from 17 sites of different Institution: 1. Department of Botany, environmental conditions in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states of India viz., Kongunadu Arts and Science Mananthavady, Pulpally, Meppadi, Ambalavayal, Kolamala, Malayalapuzha, College, Coimbatore-641 Pazhakulam, Vadasserikara, Konni, Marayoor, Kandalloor, Kodanthur, Mavadappu, 029, Tamil Nadu, India. Kulipatti, Kurumalai, Aattumalai and Poochikotambarai in different months in an year were analyzed. The study revealed that alkaline soil favours more concentration of 2. R and D, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 citral in the oil of C. citratus. However, regression analysis exhibited that soil alkalinity in combination with maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall 046, Tamil Nadu, India. and altitude exerts synergistic effect over the concentration of citral in the lemongrass oil. Based on this fact, it was identified that the sites in Anaimalais of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu viz., Kulipatti and Kurumalai are having favourable environment for citral concentration in the oil of C. citratus.
Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus, citral, essential oil, lower Western Ghats, India.
Corresponding author: Paulsamy S
Article Citation: Sangeeth Thekkan SS, Tamilselvi A, Venkatachalapathy A and Paulsamy S. Impact of environmental factors on citral concentration in the lemongrass oil distilled from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. Journal of Research in Ecology 2016 4(1): 010-018
Email Id:
Dates: Received: 20 November 2015 Accepted: 10 December 2015 Published: 12 January 2016
Web Address: http://eologyresearch.info/ documents/EC0036.pdf.
Journal of Research in Ecology An International Scientific Research Journal
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010-018| JRE | 2016 | Vol 4 | No 1
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Thekkan et al., 2016 Kolamala (site-V- 48m above msl), Malayalapuzha (site-
INTRODUCTION Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.
VI-136m above msl), Pazhakulam (site-VII-146m above
of Poaceae is an important essential oil yielding plant
msl), Vadasserikara (site-VIII-150m above msl) and
grown in many parts of tropical and subtropical South
Konni (site-IX-152m above msl) are the study areas
East Asia and Africa (Rangari Vinod, 2009) and the oil is
located in Pathanamthitta district and Marayoor (site-X-
having diverse medicinal uses (Gupta and Sharma,
990m above msl) and Kandalloor (site-XI-1524m above
2009). In addition to several chemical compounds, citral,
msl) are the study areas located in Idukki district of
the terpene aldehyde is the chief constituent harbouring
Kerala state. The remaining study areas viz., Kodanthur
many medicinal uses, and valued in aromapathy and
(site-XII-520m above msl), Mavadappu (site-XIII-690m
cosmetic industries (Ghosh, 2005). Owing to its insect
above msl), Kulipatti (site-XIV-700m above msl),
repellent property, in recent decades lemongrass oil is a
Kurumalai (site-XV-740m above msl), Aattumalai (site-
most
XVI-620m above msl) and Poochikotambarai (site-XVII-
essential
requirement
for
insecticidal
drug
manufacturing pharma industries (Ranitha et al., 2014).
490m above msl) are located in the Anaimalai hills of
The per cent availability of this constituent in the
Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu state. The data on soil
lemongrass oil extracted from the grass C.citratus varied
pH and climatic factors for the study period of one year
according to climatic and soil conditions of the habitats
(June, 2014–May, 2015) are presented in Table 1 and
(Paulsamy, 2004; Peter, 2012).In the low hills of
Fig. 2a–2crespectively. These data were obtained from
southern Western Ghats (400–800 m above msl) at
the respective talukhead quarters for the sites of I–XI and
several places of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states, this
for the sites of XII–XVII. They were collected from
grass is cultivated for oil extraction (Paulsamy et al.,
Kadambarai and Navamalai hydroelectric power stations
2000). As the commercial value of the oil is decided
and Akkamalai Tea Factory.
mainly by the content of citral, analysis of the effect of
Local People of Lemongrass Cultivation and Oil
environmental variables on the proportion of citralis
Extraction
most essential to select the suitable habitat for the
In all study areas, local people of 5 to 20 persons
cultivation of C. citratus and for quality oil production.
were involved in lemongrass cultivation and oil
Thus, in the present study, some habitats of C. citratus
extraction as agriculture based engagement. The grass
located in the lower Western Ghats were selected to
was cultivated in small tracts at hilly slopes where no
determine the influence of certain environmental
plant communities were established well. Lemongrass
variables on the content of citral.
harvest was made at two months interval and distilled for oil after 2-3 days of shade drying.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Areas Seventeen study areas situated at different places of southern Western Ghats (11 in Kerala and 6 in Tamil
Soil pH It was determined for ‘A’ horizon of soil (0–10 cm) of all the study areas using digital pH meter. Estimation of Major Oil Constituents
Nadu) were selected for the present study (Fig. 1).
Each time after distillation, 250 ml of lemongrass
Mananthavady (site-I-760m above msl), Pulpally (site-II-
oil samples were procured in every study area for
907m above msl), Meppadi (site-III-874m above msl)
estimating the major constituent, citral.
and Ambalavayal (site-IV-938m above msl) are the study
Citral estimation
areas located in the Western Ghats of Wayanad district, 011
Oil samples were analyzed for citral content by Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
Thekkan et al., 2016 Table 1. Soil pH of the lemongrass communities in the study sites during the study period. Year and month 2014 Jun Aug Oct Dec 2015 Feb Apr Mean
Sites* I
ΙΙ
ΙΙΙ
ΙV
V
VΙ
VΙΙ
VΙΙΙ
ΙΧ
Χ
ΧΙ
ΧΙΙ
ΧΙΙΙ
ΧΙV
ΧV
ΧVΙ
ΧVΙΙ
6.8
6.5
6.9
6.3
6.6
6.6
6.9
6.9
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.9
7.1
7.5
7.8
6.9
6.9
6.7
6.5
6.9
6.2
6.7
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.5
6.5
6.4
7.2
6.9
7.3
7.3
7.1
6.9
6.6 6.7 6.8
6.5 6.4 6.6
6.9 6.8 6.8
6.4 6.3 6.4
6.5 6.5 6.5
6.7 6.7 6.6
6.6 6.6 6.7
6.8 6.9 6.8
6.6 6.5 6.6
6.4 6.6 6.5
6.5 6.6 6.6
7.1 6.9 7.1
7.2 7.1 7.1
7.3 7.5 7.3
7.3 7.5 7.6
7.3 7.1 7.1
7.1 7.2 7.1
6.7 6.7
6.7 6.5
6.8 6.8
6.5 6.3
6.6 6.5
6.5 6.6
6.8 6.7
6.8 6.8
6.6 6.5
6.5 6.5
6.6 6.5
7.2 7.1
7.1 7.1
7.1 7.3
7.6 7.5
7.2 7.1
7.2 7.1
*
Site1-Mananthavady, Site ΙΙ - Pulpally, Site ΙΙΙ - Meppadi, Site ΙV - Ambalavayal, Site V - Kolamala, Site VΙ Malayalapuzha, Site VΙΙ - Pazhakulam, Site VΙΙΙ - Vadasserikara, Site ΙΧ - Konni, Site Χ - Marayoor, Site ΧΙ – Kandalloor, Site ΧΙΙ – Kodanthur, Site ΧΙΙΙ – Mavudappu, Site ΧΙV –Kulipatti, Site ΧV – Kurumalai, Site ΧVΙ – Attumalai and Site ΧVΙΙ- Poochikotambarai. following sodium bisulphate method (Guenther, 1972).
of biomass during summer harvest, (Feb. and April,
Ten milli litres of oil were taken in a beaker to which
2015) was greater (76-88 %) than that of the other
30g sodium bisulphite and 100 ml distilled water were
months.
added. This mixture was boiled and shaken well for 10
temperature with low rainfall favours more yield of oil
min. After the formation of a white precipitation, the
with rich amount of constituents in lemongrass. This
beaker was dipped in water bath for 45 min to dissolve
result possibly occurred because of the high temperature
the precipitation completely. Then the beaker was cooled
and low soil moisture that generally influence plant
under tap water. The non-citral portion of the oil
physiology by causing the plants to defend against
separates as an oily layer which has been measured
adverse external condition by producing more secondary
conveniently in the neck of a Cassia flask and there by
metabolites like essential oil (Evans, 1996).
determined the citral content of the oil.
Generally
the
environment
of
higher
The range of monthly minimum and maximum temperatures(16oC and 31oC and 20oC and 40oC
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION itral, the terpene aldehyde is the most important
respectively) and annual rainfall (604 - 1816mm) recorded across the study sites during the study period
constituent of lemongrass oil, which determines the
indicated the existence of favourable climate for
market value of the oil owing to its aromatic and
growth of lemongrass and also the synthesis of essential
medicinal properties (Singh, 2012). Its concentration
oil and its constituent, citral (Anonymous, 2009) in the
showed much variation among the lemongrass oils
lower Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (Fig. 2).
collected from the study sites (Table 2). Generally the
However, the moderate annual rainfall (604–917mm)
lemongrass oil of the study sites at Anaimalais (sites-XI-
recorded for the study sites of Anaimalais, viz.,
XVII) contained more concentration of citral (78.1%-
Kodanthur (site-XII), Mavudappu (site-XIII), Kuliapatti
81.3%) than that of the remaining sites (75.3%-76.8%).It
(site-XIV), Kurumalai (site-ΧV), Attumalai (site-ΧVΙ)
indicates that the sites in Anaimalais (sites-ΧΙΙ–ΧVΙΙ) in
and Poochikotambarai (site-ΧVΙΙ) were reported to be
general have more favourable climatic and soil factors
more condusive for the growth of lemongrass and the
for citral content in lemongrass oil. Further it has been
content of citral in its oil than the June–August (south–
estimated that in all sites the citral percentage in the oil
west monsoon period) and October–November (north–
Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
the
012
*
Sites1-Mananthavady, Site ΙΙ - Pulpally, Site ΙΙΙ - Meppadi, Site ΙV - Ambalavayal, Site V - Kolamala, Site VΙ -Malayalapuzha, Site VΙΙ - Pazhakulam, Site VΙΙΙ Vadasserikara, Site ΙΧ - Konni, Site Χ - Marayoor, Site ΧΙ – Kandalloor, Site ΧΙΙ – Kodanthur, Site ΧΙΙΙ – Mavudappu, Site ΧΙV – Kulipatti, Site ΧV – Kurumalai, Site ΧVΙ – Attumalai and Site ΧVΙΙ- Poochikotambarai.
79.1 78.1 78.7 81.3 79.3 79.0 76.6 76.8 75.8 77.0 75.3 76.3 76.3 76.6 77.1 75.8 76.3 Mean
86 81 85 88 87 85 79 81 79 79 77 78 80 79 78 77 78
74 77 78 82 73 76 76 82 78 75 77 81 79 78 78 85 76 75 79 81 75 78 76 82 76 75 77 78 75 74 78 79 73 75 77 77 75 77 78 78 75 73 74 76 77 78 75 76 76 77 74 76 73 75 77 78 77 78 75 76 74 77 75 76 77 77 75 76
78 77 76 80 78 78 75 74 74 75 77 74 75 78 79 76 75
2014 Jun Aug Oct Dec 2015 Feb Apr
ΧVΙ ΧV ΧΙV ΙΙΙ ΧΙΙ ΧΙ Χ ΙΧ I
ΙΙ
ΙΙΙ
ΙV
V
VΙ
VΙΙ
VΙΙΙ
Sites*
Year and month
Table 2. Variation in citral percentage in the lemongrass oil extracted from Cymbopogon citratus in different study sites.
ΧVΙΙ
Thekkan et al., 2016
013
remaining 11 sites where the annual rainfall was above1100mm. The relative humidity ranged between 60.5 to 76.4% and the soil pH existed between 6.4 and 7.5 during the study period across the sites studied for lemongrass oil analysis. Among the17 study sites, the six sites Anaimalaisviz., Kodanthur, Mavudappu, Kulipatti, Kurumalai, Attumalai and Poochikotambarai (sites-XII, XIII, XIV, XVI and XVII respectively) were determined to have suitable environment for citral content in the lemongrass oil; It is explained that if more alkaline is present in the soil, the higher is in the citral content of the oil, provided the other factors are to be favourable (Anonymous, 2009). Qadry (2009) investigated that alkaline pH in soil triggers the synthesis of more citral in the lemongrass oil as defence mechanism to resist the alkaline stress. As the crop and oil yields and the quality of the lemongrass oilare better in the habitats of elevation upto 900m above msl (Srivastava et al., 2013), it is understood that except the study sites at Kandalloor (site ΧΙ) and Marayoor (site- Χ with the altitude 990mm above msl), all the remaining study sites had better environment for lemongrass growth. The range of soil pH and climatic factors were considerably varied among the study areas. The soil pH ranged between 6.2 in Ambalavayal and 7.8 in Kurumalai. The pH indicates that the soils of study areas of Anaimalais (sites-ΧΙΙ–XVII) are alkaline and the soils of sites in Kerala state (sites-I-XI) are acidic. The monthly maximum temperature was ranging from 20°C at Kandalloor (site-XI) and Kurumalai (site-XV) to 40°C at Attumalai (site-XVI). The minimum temperature existed between 16°C in Poochikotamparai (site-XVII) and 31°C in the areas, Kodanthur (site-XII), Kulipatti (site-XIV) and Attumalai (site-XVI). The relative humidity also varied much across the study areas (53% - 86%). The monthly rainfall occurred in the study areas ranged from 0 mm (generally during the months of January and Febraury, 2015 in all study areas) to 403 mm (in Ambalavayal during June, 2014). Rainfall was most effective during Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
Thekkan et al., 2016 Table 3. Correlation coefficient (r) between citral (%) in the lemongrass oil extracted from Cymbopogon citratus and certain environmental variables of the study sites. Lemon grass Max. temp Min. temp Relative humidity Rainfall attribute (Mat) (Mit) (RH) (Rf)
Soil pH (pH)
Altitude (alt)
-0.695*
0.835**
0.133
Citral
0.340
0.014
-0.411
**Correlation is significant at 0.01 level. *Correlation is significant at 0.05 level. east monsoon period).
oil (r = -0.695, p < 0.05) in the present study. It is
An analysis of data elucidated from the several
explained that rainfall, the most influencing factor for the
functional relations among the lemongrass variable, citral
growth of plants, generally not favours the synthesis of
and certain climatic, soil and altitudinal factors are given
many secondary metabolites including the essential oil
in Table 3. The soil pH has significant positive
and its constituents (Lohani et al., 2015). This fact was
correlation with the constituent, citral (r = 0.835,
well shown in the study sites of Anaimalai hills (sites-
P<0.01). Results of several studies reported that alkaline
ΧΙΙ–ΧVΙΙ) where the rainfall was generally lower with
pH generally enhanced the citral content of lemongrass
higher citral percentage in the lemongrass oil than the
oil (Jayasinha et al., 1999; Castelo et al., 2012). It is
other sites.
evidenced from the present study that the citral content
In
Pearson’s
correlation,
no
significant
determined was notably higher in Kulipatti of Anaimalai
correlation was found between citral percent in the oil
hills (site-ΧΙV) (81.35%) where the pH of the soil was
and the combination of environmental variables viz.,
alkaline at all times of sampling during the study period
maximum temperature, minimum temperature and
than the other sites studied (Table 1). Plants growing in
relative
well drained soil at places like hilly slopes were highly
humidity and rainfall, maximum temperature, rainfall
adapted to alkalinity and more sensitive to changes in the
and soil pH, maximum temperature, soil pH and altitude,
soil pH by producing certain secondary metabolites like
minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall,
essential oils (Evans, 1996). This is practically true for
minimum temperature, rainfall and soil pH, minimum
lemongrass which is known to grow better in alkaline
temperature, soil pH and altitude, relative humidity,
soils Qadry (2009) and is producing high citral content in
rainfall and soil pH, relative humidity, soil pH and
its vegetal parts. The amount of rainfall also had
altitude and rainfall, soil pH and altitude. A number of
significant negative correlation with citral percentage of
synergetic effects of climatic, soil and altitudinal factors
humidity, maximum temperature, relative
Table 4. Best multiple regression obtained between citral per cent in lemongrass oil and the environmental variables viz., maximum and minimum temperatures (Mat and Mit respectively), rainfall (Rf), relative humidity (RH), soil pH and altitude (alt). Lemon grass attribute Citral
Equation
r
p
Y= 59.806 – 0.046 Mat + 0.319Mit– 0.134 RH – 0.004 Rf + 2.944 pH + 0.002 alt Y= 59.280+0.288Mit– 0.125 RH – 0.004Rf + 2.846 pH + 0.002 alt
R=0.693
0.05
R=0.692
0.05
Y= 67.088 + 0.099 Mat – 0.135RH – 0.005 Rf+ 2.400 pH + 0.002 alt Y= 47.479+ 0.039 Mat + 0.320Mit– 0.007Rf+ 3.134 pH + 0.002 alt Y= 62.403 – 0.124 Mat + 0.365 Mit – 0.188 RH + 3.203 pH + 0.002 alt Y= 59.667– 0.050 Mat + 0.296Mit– 0.104 RH – 0.004Rf + 2.937 pH Y= 70.908 – 0.163 RH – 0.004 Rf + 2.540 pH + 0.002 alt
R=0.661 R=0.666 R=0.683 R=0.654 R=0.654
0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
014
Thekkan et al., 2016
Figure 1. Location of study areas.
Figure 2a. Monthly maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall and relative humidity of the study sites during May, 2014- April, 2015. Sites: Ι - Mananthavady, ΙΙ -Pulpally, ΙΙΙ -Meppadi,ΙVAmbalavayal,V – Kolamala and VΙ - Malayalapuzha. 015
Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
Thekkan et al., 2016
Figure 2b. Monthly maximum and minimum temper- Figure 2c. Monthly maximum and minimum temperaatures, rainfall and relative humidity of the study sites tures, rainfall and relative humidity of the study sites during May, 2014- April, 2015. during May, 2014- April, 2015. Sites: VΙΙ - Pazhakulam, VΙΙ - Vadasserikara, ΙΧ - Konni, Sites: ΧΙΙΙ -Mavadappu, ΧΙV - Kulipatti, ΧV - KurumaΧ - Marayoor, ΧΙ – Kandalloor and ΧΙΙ - Kodanthur. lai, ΧVΙ - Aattumalai and ΧVΙΙ - Poochikotambarai. Journal of Research in Ecology (2016) 4(1):010-018
016
Thekkan et al., 2016 on citral percentage in lemongrass were detected, but for composition of essential oils from two Brazilian native the sake of brevity, only the best equations for citral arbusive species. Journal of Applied Sciences, 12(8):753percentage in oil were presented (Table 4). The 760. combinations of maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall, soil pH and altitude, minimum temperature, relative humidity, soil pH and altitude,
Evans WC. (1996). Treasure and Evans Pharmacognosy. 14th ed, WB. Saunders Co. Ltd., London. 248.
maximum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, soil Ghosh ML. (2005). Scientific growing and sociopH and altitude, maximum and minimum temperatures, economic value of citral – rich lemongrass for the welfare rainfall, soil pH and altitude, maximum and minimum of rural people. III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and temperatures, relative humidity, soil pH and altitude, Aromatic Plants, 2:81-87. maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall and soil pH, and relative humidity, rainfall, soil pH and altitude exerted pivotal role in citral production in
the
lemongrass
oil
(r=0.654–0.693,
Guenther E. (1972). The essential oils. 1st, 2nd ed. Robert E. Krieger Inc., Florida. 286.
P<0.05). Gupta MK and Sharma PK. (2009). A Text book of
Therefore, despite the dominant role played by the soil pharmacognosy, Pragatiprakashan, 1sted. 463. pH for higher citral content, the multiple regression analysis showed relationships involving almost all climatic, soil and altitudinal variables studied. The present study suggests that the citral percentage in the oil of C. citratus the function of the
Jayasinha P, Warnaswriya D and Dissanayake H. (1999). Medicinal and aromatic plantseries. No. 9. Lemongrass
Survey
Information
Service
Centre,
Industrial technology Institute, Colombo, Srilanka.
factor, soil pH but its intensity of influence vary Lohani H, Bhandari U, Gwari G, Zafer Haider S, according to other climatic variables like maximum and Sunil Sah and Nirpendra Chauhan K. (2015). minimum temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall and Intraspecific chemical variability in essential oil of altitude. In addition, the environmental factors that exist Cymbopogan distans (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson from in the Anaimalai, sited particularly at Kulipatti and Uttarakhand Himalaya (India). Indian Journal of Natural Kurumalai are more favourable for the citral content in Products and Resources, 6(2):122-126. the lemongrass oil. Therefore, areas similar to these two sites in any other landscapes of lower Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states are suitable for lemongrass oil extraction with good quality.
Paulsamy S. (2004). Lemon grass oil and tribal welfare in Anaimalai hills, Western Ghats. SAJOSPS, 111- 113. Paulsamy S, Rangarajan TN, Arumugasamy K, Manian S, Udaiyan K, Sivakumar R and Senthilkumar
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