Abstract
The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from dried fruits of Elettaria cardamomum Maton. (Zingiberaceae) of Delhi region was analyzed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The variations in essential oil components under different physical factors have been, determined. The oil was characterized by a large number monoterpenes (97.6 %) constituting 1,8-cincole (89.6 %), cis-ocimene (3.7 %) and alpha-terpinene (2.2 %) as the major components. Except the volatile oil exposed to sunlight, 1,8-cineole was detected in all the oil samples and its amount varied from 29.4 % in heated oil to 89.4 % in untreated oil. Linalool, thujyl alcohol, litnonene-1,2-epoxide, citronellol, trans-pinocarveol, nerol and linalyl acetate were generated when the oil was heated at 110 degrees C. Exposer of the oil with sunlight, enhanced the production of linalyl acetate (17.8 %) and borneol (12.1 %). 1,4-Cineole, p- cymene-8-ol and isoborneol were only detected in UV exposed oil while the 2-heptane was only identified in high amounts in silica gel and alumina treated volatile oils.