Pogostemon cablin Linn., commonly known as patchouli is an aromatic plant with immense use in aroma and perfumery. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and various biological activities of Pogostemon cablin Linn flower and leaf essential oils. The compositional analysis was carried out using GC/MS, while standard biological experiments were used to determine the pharmacological potential of both the essential oils. Patchouli alcohol (27.52%, 44.52%) was found to be the major compound followed by caryophyllene (18.23%, 12.86%) for both flowers and leaves essential oil (EO) respectively. P. cablin flower (PCFEO) and leaf essential oil (PCLEO) exhibited weak to strong antimicrobial activities against selected microbial strains. The mitotic index for flower and leaf EO was 14.38% and 15.20% respectively. PCFEO and PCLEO had chromosomal aberrations of 9.0% and 9.60%, respectively. Both PCFEO and PCLEO had substantial antioxidant activity, with PCLEO exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 1.31 µg/mL). Highest anti-inflammatory activity was exhibited by PCLEO (IC₅₀ = 4.49 µg/mL). Similarly, the anti-diabetic ability of PCLEO (IC₅₀ = 14.19 µg/mL) was greater than the PCFEO (IC₅₀ = 15.60 µg/mL). The PCLEO (IC₅₀ = 7.42 µg/mL) and PCFEO (IC₅₀ = 12.67 µg/mL) both exhibited better anticholinesterase activity than galanthamine (IC₅₀= 22.16 µg/mL). Better tyrosinase inhibitory activity was shown by PCLEO with IC₅₀ = 4.03 µg/mL than PCFEO IC₅₀ = 4.44 µg/mL. Apart from their antimicrobial activity, the PCLEO was found to outperform both PCFEO as well as the standards in their respective assays. Thus, the present study affirmed the wide application aspects of patchouli essential oil apart from its aromatic application.

Background/Objectives: Cymbopogon species is a universally accepted oil bearing grass. It is very much valuable for both Industrial as because of its main components like Geraniol, Geranial, Citral, Myrcene, Neral, Nerol, and Citronellol, Limonene etc. and Medicinal value. Therefore, it is just a little attempt to survey the literature of this important grass. Materials and Methods: For this literature survey, basically library data was collected and digital resources were also included. From these sources we obtained reliable information about different works of Cymbopogon sp. Findings: These grasses have considerable medicinal importance as all parts of it are used extensively in Ayurvedic, unani and other some traditional health treatments. Studies by different researchers indicate that Cymbopogonspecies possesses various pharmacological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-diarrheal, anti-amoebic, anti-filarial, anti-fungal and antiinflammatory properties, and various other effects like anti-mutagenicity, anti-malarial,anti-oxidants, anti-mycobacterial, hypoglycaemic etc. There are many literatures demonstrating the therapeutic use, enzyme inhibition activities of Citronella oil and also simultaneously analysed the different components of the oil. Application/Improvement: Till date very scanty information is available from different –different sources so, we try to collect this information in one review article. This review article gives an account of updated information on its chemical constituents, therapeutic uses, antimicrobial, antifungal and enzyme inhibitory activities of Cymbopogon species.

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt is an industrially important crop due to its value in the aromatic, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, 72 accessions of C. winterianus were selected for molecular diversity analysis using SSR markers. It revealed a total of 65 polymorphic alleles showing an average of 68.10% polymorphism. The best SSR primer with competency in discriminating the germplasm was 3CM0506 with PIC (0.69), MI (0.69) and Rp (3.12). Genetic variation was studied between Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh populations. A dendrogram based on the Neighbour-Joining Method showed clustering of germplasm on the collection site. A total of six relevant genetic populations were identified through a structure harvester software analysis. Moreover, a dendrogram based on similarity, complete linkage and Euclidean distance was also elucidated differentiating the genotypes with respect to the major phytochemical constituents of the essential oil. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil of the 72 germplasms revealed citronellal content from 2.58–51.45%, citronellol from 0.00–26.39% and geraniol from 0.00–41.15%. This is the first molecular diversity report with 72 accessions of C. winterianus collected from the NE region using 28 SSR primers as well as their diversity based on phytochemical markers. This diversity computation will help with acquisition of the knowledge and relationship among each individual accession leading to the development of improved and essential oil component-rich cultivars.

(1) Background: Curcuma caesia Roxb. is a high valued crop which is extensively used in pharmaceuticals, flavour and fragrances. C. caesia is recognised as an endangered species due to its extensive collection from the wild through human intervention. Therefore, to prevent the species from extinction, it is very necessary to conserve and cultivate this plant species for the sustainable availability of the raw material. (2) Methods: In the present plant breeding programme, a multi-year study was performed for the identification of superior genotypes which will help in conservation. To fulfil this objective, a total of 135 accessions of C. caesia were collected from different regions of India and were set up for experimental selection trial for three years (2016–2018). After proper evaluation of the genotypes based on six agronomical traits, five high-yielding genotypes were identified which underwent multilocation trial for two years (2019 and 2020). The stability analysis using the Eberhart–Russell method, AMMI and GGE biplot were used to study the consistency of the genotypes in varied environments compared with the check variety. (3) Results: Analysis of variance indicated significant genotype and environment interaction for the yield traits, i.e., dry rhizome recovery, rhizome yield and essential oil yield. The coefficient of variation (CV) was highest for tillers per plant (21.76) and lowest for the plant height (4.93). All the results clearly demonstrated Jor Lab KH-2 as the highest yielding and stable genotype in varied environments compared with the check variety and other selected genotypes. (4) Conclusions: This genotype was then submitted to ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, for germplasm registration and received its confirmation vide registration number INGR 21159. This genotype will greatly benefit the breeders and will also help in the conservation of this endangered species. This is the first report on the identification and registration of a high-yielding variety of C. caesia.

Zingiber officinale Roscoe. is a medicinally important plant with distinct aroma and pungency. The present study aims to evaluate the essential oil of 150 germplasm of ginger collected from different states across Northeast India which has been maintained at field gene bank. The rhizome essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation using Clevenger apparatus and was evaluated by gas chromatography. The study revealed the presence of twenty-one chemical constituents in the studied germplasm out of which E-citral followed by Z-citral, 1,8-cineole, ar-curcumene, camphene and geraniol were the major constituents. The identified minor compounds were 1-borneol followed by γ-muurolene, α-bisabolene, zingiberene, α-terpineol, farnesene, linalool, α-pinene, geranyl acetate, eudesmol and β-cedrene. This is the first report on the evaluation of essential oil constituents of diverse germplasm (150) of Z. officinale which will be highly beneficial for the identification of compound-rich germplasm of ginger. This would further pave the way for selection of ginger germplasm with superior trait in terms of chemical composition.

The slips of Cymbopogon winterianus (Java citronella) are used to propagate this industrially important crop. It does not have a mating system that allows it to create new variability or develop su...