Comparative analysis of essential oil contents of <i>Juniperus excelsa</i> (M. Beib.) found in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Cones/berries of Juniperus excelsa from three provenances in Balochistan, Pakistan were collected and essential oil was extracted by solvent method. Oil contents were analyzed on gas chromatography
mass spectrometry (GCMS). Identification and quantification was made by using Wiley and NIST spectral library and HP Chemstation software. Quantitatively the mean cone oil yield was 5.8, 6.5 and 4.5% for Ziarat, Zarghoon Ghar and Harboi District Kalat, respectively. Ziarat being the richest in number of compounds while Harboi in compound diversity. Quantitative and qualitative similarities were found among three locations. Ziarat was found to be rich in α-pinene, cedrol, camphene, copaene, phyllocladene, ferruginol, podocarp-7-en-3-one, and pimara-8(14) 15-dien. Zarghoon Ghar was found to be rich in α-pinene, limonene, germacrene d, widdrol, phyllocladene, ferruginol, androst-4-ene-3,6-dione and Harboi was represented by α-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, cedrene, clovene, cadinene, patchoulene, cedrol, spathulenol, abietatriene, norkaur, pimaric acid and neoabietic acid. In all, 99 compounds were reported for the first time from the oil of cones of J. excelsa in Balochistan. 

Keywords: Juniperus excelsa, essential oils, GCMS, Balochistan