Volatile Constituents & Phytochemical Studies of Platycladusorientalis Grown In North Central Nigeria

The hydro distilled essential oil of fresh leaves of Platycladusorientalis (L) Franco [Thujaorientalis] Family: cupressaceae was analysis by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.(GCMS). The oil yield is (1.25%) w/w. Thirty two compounds representing 96.62% of the total oil were identified. The main constituents are IR-αpinene (15.92%), α-caryophyllene (10.42%), trans-β ocimene (8.71%), limonene (8.25%), and patchoulane (7.46%). The oil is rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (55.04%), followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (28.96%), others (7.93%), oxygenated monoterpenes (2.05%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes 2.64%. The Phytochemical screening of the air dried leaves was also studied and found to contain medicinal active constituents like alkaloids, tannins, flavonoid, terpenoid, cardiac glycosides, sterols and anthraquinones, which justify the use of the plant in treating various infectious diseases.