Leaves of Citrus meyerii harvested fresh and dried for four consecutive days were separately hydro-distilled and yielded 0.11 – 0.24 %(w/w) of essential oils. Characterisation of the oils using Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the predominance of hydrocarbon monoterpenoids 51.1 – 68.3%. Oxygenated monoterpenoids, hydrocarbon sesquiterpenoids and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids constituted (17.4 - 24.9%), (12.2 - 19.8%) and (0.0 – 2.5%) of the oils respectively. Principal constituents of the oils were; 3-carene (10.1-30.7%), α-pinene (1.0%-18.7%), d-limonene (5.2-6.4%), cis-β-ocimene (5.8-14.2%), citronellal (5.4-6.8%), and β-elemene (3.0-5.8%). The oils were of 3-carene and α-pinene chemotypes. Oils that were of 3-carene chemotype were those from fresh and the leaves dried for one and four days while the oils from leaves dried for two and three days were of α-pinene chemotype. Insecticidal activities of the oils were determined using contact toxicity test on Callosobruchus maculatus. Regardless of whether the leaves were fresh or dried, the oils were active against the insect. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the activities of the oils against the insect.
Journal Section | Articles |
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Authors | |
Publication Date | July 12, 2016 |
Submission Date | May 30, 2016 |
Published in Issue | Year 2016 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 |