Volatile chemical constituents of patchouli (pogostemon cablin (bianco) Benth.: Labiatae) from three localities in Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Fresh aerial parts of patchouli (Pogostemon cabling were obtained from Rabaul, Port Moresby and Inawabui in the Mekeo area of the Central Province. The volatile oil constituents were extracted by exhaustive hydro distillation where each of the patchouli samples afforded oil yields of about 0 1 percent. Detailed chemical investigations of the oils indicated patchouli alcohol to be the mam constituent in the oils from the three localities. It was noted that the patchouli alcohol composition in the cultivar from Rabaul, Port Moresby and Mekeo were 71.8, 71.7 and 43.7 percent compositions respectively suggesting that the patchouli oil from PNG can attract a ready market on the basis of its high patchouli alcohol contents in the patchouli oil as opposed to between 30 - 40 percent composition from other patchouli oil producing countries.