CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS OF CLEOME VISCOSA FROM NIGERIA

Abstract

The major volatile constituents of the oils from the integral parts of Cleome viscosa L. from Nigeria have been identified by GC, GC/MS and 1H NMR. The main constituents of the non-polar fraction of the oils were monoterpene hydrocarbons (21% in stem/leaves, 15% in seed/fruits, 12% in roots) and some oxygenated derivatives (3% in leaves/stem; 1% in seeds/fruits and 1.5% in roots). The monoterpenes occurred frequently in the oils. Fatty acid esters especially ethyl palmitate which constituted a major constituent in the oil from the seeds/fruits was not detected in the oils from the roots.



KEY WORDS: Cleome viscosaL, Capparaceae, Essential oil, Volatile constituents


Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2005, 19(1), 139-143.