Chemical Characterization of Marhabaib (Cymbopgon) Leaves, Spikes and their Essential Oil

Abstract

Marhabaib or Maharaib as normally known in "Sudan"is an annual plant which wildly grows in many parts of the country. It is traditionally consumed for medicinal purposes or as flavoring additive. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of Marhabaib leaves and spikes for determination of their minerals content and chemical structures of the volatile oil constituents. The leaves samples were collected from Al-gadreef state and the spikes samples were obtained from Northern Darfur state. Inductively couple plasma spectroscopy was used for determination for mineral content of the plant leaves and spikes. The volatile oil of the leaves samples and spikes samples was extracted by steam distillation, the two extracted oils samples were analyzed by GC\MS spectroscopy. The ICP analysis of Sudanese Marhabaib samples showed that the plant was rich with the macro-nutrients and the essential trace minerals. Phosphorus and Iron showed considerable availability. Leaves sample showed P content as (2.05mg\100g) and Fe content as (1.075mg\100), whereas the spikes sample showed P content as (10.75 mg\100g) and Fe content as (1.25 mg\ 100g). The analysis did not show any presence for the toxic minerals Lead and Tin in the two samples. Arsenic showed very low concentration in the spikes sample and not detected in the leaves sample. Cadmium, Strontium, Barium and Aluminum showed significantly low concentration in the two samples. The GC\MS analysis showed the presence of forty eight constituents in the spikes oil sample, dominated by Pipreitone (35.96%), Elemol (20.45%), (+)- 2- Carene (8.18%), Guaiol (6.04%), β-eudesmol(5.97%), γ-eudesmol (4.28 %), Bulnesol (3.14%), Limonine (1.44%) and α-Eudesmol (1.37%). The Leaves oil sample characterization by GC\MC showed a presence of sixteen constituents, dominated by Piperitone (84.16%), followed by (+)-2-carene (5.75%), d–Limonene (2.67%) and α– terpineol (2.21 %). The minerals content for the leaves and spikes of the plant, as well as, the chemical constituents of the oil may encourage traditional use of Marhabaib leaves, spikes and essential oil for medicinal and nutritional uses without any possible risks.