Essential oil constituents ofAframomum melegueta (Roscoe) K. Schum. seeds (alligator pepper) from Nigeria

Abstract

The composition of the essential oil isolated from the seeds of Aframomum melegueta (Roscoe) K. Schum. by hydrodistillation was characterized by means of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 27 compounds constituting 98.6% of the volatile oil were identified. Two sesquiterpene hydrocarbons: humulene and caryophyllene made up 82.6% of the volatile oil, whilst their oxides amounted to a further 9.0%. Seventeen other mono- and sesquiterpenes accounted for only 1% of the volatile oil. Five non-terpenoids were detected in trace amounts only (<0.2%). Of the 27 constituents identified, 12 are reported as components of A. melegueta for the first time. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.