THE VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS AND MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON KAEMPHERIA GALANGA, HIBISCUS ABELMOSCHUS, AND PIPER LONGUM

The GC-MS studies of the volatile oils of root and rhizomes of Kaempheria galanga indicated that ethyl cinnamate and ethyl p- methoxycinnamate are the major constituents. A variation in their concentrations occurred with age. Compounds such as camphene, 1,8 cineol, camphor, borneol, cinnamaldehyde and quinozoline phenyl oxide too were identified.

Farnesyl acetate was the major component of seed oil of Hibiscus abelmoschus. In addition, compounds such as farnesene, farnesyl acetate, 2.3-dihydrofarnasol etc. were identified.

Over 15 components were identified by GC-MS of the volatile oil of Piper longum. The variations in the piperine contents with maturity too were monitored.

In antibacterial studies Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as test organisms. Fusarium oxysporum. Coletotrichum sp. and Alternaria sp. were used in antifungal studies.

Both root and rhizome oils of Kaempheria galanga showed antibacterial and antifungal activities. While Piper longum and H. abelmoschus seed oil had only antibacterial activities.