African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (18), pp. 1652-1654, 18 September 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Short Communication

Chemical composition of volatile constituents from the leaves of Aloe ferox

M. L. Magwa², M. Gundidza³, R.M. Coopoosamy¹* and B. Mayekiso¹

¹Department of Botany, ²Electron Microscope Unit, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, ALICE 5700, Eastern Cape, SOUTH AFRICA.

³Department of Pharmacy, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, ZIMBABWE.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: rcoopoosamy@ufh.ac.za

Accepted 8 August, 2006

Volatile compounds oils play a significant role in perfumery, cosmetic, medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. In our protracted research for new useful essential oils, a volatile oil from Aloe ferox was obtained by prolonged hydrodistillation. This volatile oil was subjected to GC/MS analysis to identify the major constituents of the oil. The major constituents identified were as follows: 3, 6 octatriene (23.86%), 3-cyclohexane-1-hetanol (7.31%), Bornylene (5.24%), 1, 3-cyclopentadiene (4.07) and 5-methyl-3-heptanol (3.92%). A significant number of other volatiles were also identified but in minor concentrations.

Key words: Aloe ferox, gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, volatile compounds.