Matilda Iyayi Ikhatua and Abiodun Falodun
Keywords: Essential oil, Irvingia gabonensis, Irvingia wombolu, chemical constituent
Abstract: The chemical composition of volatile compounds from seeds of Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu (Irvingiaceae) grown in Southern Nigeria has been studied. Essential oils from two species of the plant were obtained by solvent extraction in conventional Clavenger- like apparatus. The major compounds in these essential oils were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry GC and GC/MS. Twelve and ten components were identified in I. gabonensis and I. wombolu , respectively, of which carboxylic acids and esters were the major components in both species. The oils obtained from the two species have been profiled by GC/MS to obtain data and they showed similarities but also differences in their composition. Fatty acids and esters compounds were the most abundant components in the oils. The present study may represent the first of its kind on the characterization of the volatile constituents in Irvingia species and useful contribution to the better understanding of interspecies relationships in this genus.
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