a study of the quality of a local herbal tea and volatiles of parinari ...

4.3.2.2 Effect of ripening on volatile constituents of S. cocculoides
Volatile constituents of ripe and unripe S. cocculoides obtained using the CFMD are
provided in Table 4.5 above. Using the CFMD, the ripe S. Cocculoides showed the
following volatile constituents; 1-Oxiranylethanone, ethyl-2-methyl-butyrate, and
2-butoxyethanol. While in unripe S. cocculoides the same method gave only the
compound 2-butoxy ethanol. This is probably because most of the important odour-active
volatiles are not produced until later stages of ripening and maturation (Yahia et al.,
1990).
4.4 Volatile constituents of cocoyam and cassava leaves
4.4.1. Identity of volatile constituents of cocoyam leaves
Using hydrodistillation and solvent extraction from the hydrosol, fresh cocoyam leaves
produced eight (8) compounds (Table 4.6). These compounds constituted carbonyls
(12.5 %), esters (12.5 %) and alcohols 75 %. The compounds identified were
oxoisophorone, citronellyl formate, 2-butoxyethanol, linalool, citronellol, nerol, geraniol
and phenol. Linalool is an important compound which has anticancer effects (Usta et al.,
2009). Thus, cocoyam leaves should also be investigated for such activity.
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