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Variation of essential oil composition of fruits of <i>Zanthoxylum leprieurii</i> Guill. et Perr (Rutaceae) from different sample locations and during their maturation period


Yoro Tine
Alioune Diallo
William Diatta
Idrissa Ndoye
Rokhya Sylla Guèye
Mamadou Baldé
Adama Diédhiou
Djibril Fall
Matar Seck
Jean-Marie Desjobert
Jean Costa
Alassane Wélé
Julien Paolini

Abstract

The fruits of Zanthoxylum leprieurii Guill. & Perr. (Rutaceae) are traditionally used in Africa, particularly in Cameroon, as a spice and in the treatment of sickle cell anaemia. The objective of this study was to investigate the fruit essential oils from different sample locations and during their maturation period by using GC and GC-MS. Except for one sample collected in Aniak which consisted mainly of oxygenated monoterpenes, the volatile composition of Z. leprieurii fruits exhibited relative high amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons (61.1-90.9%) such as (E)-β-ocimene (13.4-75.2%) and a-pinene (1.1-40.7%). The influence of the maturity stage on the chemical composition of the essential oils has resulted in an increase of oil yield and variations in the content of volatile compounds (a-pinene 13.3-75.6; (E)-β-ocimene 2.9-64.0%).


Keywords: Senegal, Zanthoxylum leprieurii fruits, essential oil, chemical variability, stage of maturity and GC-MS.


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eISSN: 1997-342X
print ISSN: 1991-8631