Medicinal used plants from India: analysis of the essential oils of Sphaeranthus indicus flowers, roots and stems with leaves

The essential oils of flowers, roots and herb (stems with leaves) of Sphaeranthus indicus Kurz. (Asteraceae) from southern India were investigated by gas chromatographic-spectroscopic (GC-FID and GC-MS) and olfactoric methods to identify those compounds responsible for the characteristic odor as well as partly for the folk medicinal use of this plant. More than 95 volatiles were found to be constituents of the three essential S. indicus oils with following composition of main components: flower oil: β-eudesmol (21.4%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (16.2%), β-caryophyllene (7.8%), τ-cadinol (7.2%). caryophyllene oxide (6.9%) and α-eudesmol (4.5%); root oil: 2,5-dimethoxy-pcymene (28.3%), τ-cadinol (25.3%), (2)-arteannuic alcohol (10.1 %), β-maaliene (3.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (3.1%); herb oil: 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (27.0%), τ-cadinol (12.5%), β-eudesmol (9.1 %), α-eudesmol (7.0%) and caroyphyllene oxide (4.7%). In addition, the odor impressions of the samples are described and the possible use of the essential Sphaeranthus indicus oils in medicinal, cosmetic and food flavoring discussed.