EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS PRESENT IN

SAUNF(ANISEED) , AJWAIN(CARUM) AND

ELAICHI (CARDAMOM)

● INTRODUCTION
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic
liquid containing volatile chemical compounds
from plants . Essential oils are also known as
volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply
as the oil of the plant from which they were
extracted, such as oil of aniseed , oil of carum , oil
of cardamom.
An essential oil is essential in the sense that it
contains the essence of the plant's fragrance—the
characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it
is derived.
Essential oils may occur in all parts of the plant ,
but are often concentrated in seeds or flowers.
They are obtained from the plants by steam
distillation which permits the separation of
volatile compounds from non-volatile compounds
without raising the solution temperature above
100 ℃.This reduces the risk of decomposition of
the essential oils.
They get their odour due to the presence of
oxygenated compounds and stability against
oxidation.
1. SAUNF (ANISEED) OIL :

Scientific name : Pimpinella anisum

Compounds present : A-pinene , B-pinene ,

,linalool,cis-anathole,trans-anathole,safrole,
Anisaldehyde , acetoanisole.

● Aniseed, on steam distillation, yields an essential oil,

known as `Oil of Aniseed`, which has now replaced
the fruits for medicinal and flavoring purposes.
Aniseed oil is a colorless or pale-yellow liquid having
the characteristic odor and taste of the fruit. The yield
of oil generally varies from 1.9 to 3.1 per cent. Higher
values up to 6 per cent have been reported from
Syrian aniseed. Crushing of fruits prior to distillation
gives better yields of oil. The material should be
distilled soon after the crushing to prevent any loss of
oil due to evaporation. Aniseed oil is a highly
refractive liquid, which solidifies on cooling. The
congealing point depends much on the anethole
content and is a valuable criterion for evaluating the
oil. Exposure of the oil to air causes polymerization,
and some oxidation also takes place with the
formation of anisaldehyde and anisic acid. The chief
constituent of aniseed oil is anethole, which is present
 to the extent of 80 to 90 per cent and is mainly
responsible for the characteristic flavor of the oil. The
oil also contains methyl chavicol, p-methoxyphenyl
acetone, and small amounts of terpenes and sulfur
containing compounds of disagreeable odour.

● USES:
1. Its most common flavoring applications include being
added to liqueurs, alcohol, gelatins, various candies, mints,
chewing gum, and dairy products. Oil of aniseed is also
reported to be used as an aromatic carminative to relieve
flatulence, and as an ingredient of cough lozenges in
combination with liquorice.

2. To add a richer and more robust scent, Aniseed Essential

Oil is also often added to cosmetic products such as
shampoos, conditioners, creams, soaps, and perfumes.

3. Aniseed essential oil has aromatherapeutic benefits

associated with relieving asthma, colds or sinus symptoms, as
well as quelling nausea and vomiting.

4. Anethole, the principal component of anise oil, is a

precursor that can eventually produce
2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde which is can be used in the
clandestine synthesis of psychedelic drugs such as 2C-B,
2C-I and DOB.
 2. AJWAIN (CARUM) OIL :

Scientific name : Trachyspermum ammi

Compounds present : The main constituents of

the ajwain oil are thymol, gamma-terpinene,
p-cymene, and beta-pinene. Alpha-pinene, alpha
thujene, beta-myrcene, carvacrol, limonene, and
terpinen-4-ol.There are variations in the
composition of ajwain oils
depending upon the region where it is cultivated.
For instance, ajwain oil collected from Southern
India is rich in thymol.

● Due to its special aroma and full of medicinal

properties, ajwain is used as a spice in every Indian
kitchen. At the same time, ajwain oil is preferred to
get effective health benefits of Ajwain . The reason is
that its oil is prepared from celery seeds. In such a
situation, most of the medicinal properties present in
celery extract are also present in celery oil.
It is due to the chemicals present in ajwain oil that
medicinal effects are found in it.
USES:
1. It is used for skin alignments. Ajwain oil can help
with pimples.

2. It is used as a digestive aid. One can treat

indigestion, ulcers, and various other bacterial
infections of the gut with ajwain seeds and essential
oil.

3. It is Useful in aromatherapy, ajwain oil offers

calming sensations that relieves neuralgia and
migraines

4.It is used in flavoring snacks, biscuits, sauces and

soups. They are also used as mouth fresheners.
ajwain oil is used in various cosmetics and
Pharmaceuticals.

5. Carom oil has anti-hypertensive (blood

pressure lowering) effects. Due to this effect,
the benefits of carom oil can also prove to be
effective in the problem of blood pressure.
3. CARDAMOM (ELAICHI) OIL :

Scientific name : Elettaria cardamonum

Compounds present : Cardamom oil contains sabinene,

myrcene, a-pinene, b-pinene, a-phellandrene, limonene,
p-cymene, terpinolene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, linalool,
linalyl acetate, a-terpineol acetate, citronellol, nerol,
terpinen-4-oil, a-terpineol, geraniol, methyl eugenol and
trans-nerolidol

● Cardamom essential oil is extracted from the seeds

of cardamom; whose scientific name is elettaria
cardamom. Cardamom oil is colorless to pale yellow
liquid having sweet, balsamic and characteristic spicy
odor. Cardamom oil is extracted by the process of
steam distillation. It is commonly used as a flavoring
agents in both food and drink, as cooking spices and
as a medicine also due to its herbal properties.
Cardamom oil is normally used for fragrance and
flavors apart from its several therapeutic uses.
Cardamom oil is commonly used in aromatherapy as
well as Ayurveda, primarily as a digestive tonic. It has
a sweet, spicy, herbal, fresh aroma which can be
described as green.
 ● USES:

1. Cardamom oil has a vast range of usage for treatment

of sciatica, coughs, abdominal pains, spasm and
nervous disorders.

2. Traditionally, it has been used for pulmonary disease,

fever, digestive and urinary problems in India and
China for over 3000 years.

3. It is also used to flavor pharmaceutical products.

Apart from pharmaceutical usage, cardamom oil is
also used as a fragrant in soaps, perfumes and
cosmetic products

4. Cardamom oil has healing properties that helps in

healing breakouts and also acts as a skin purifier.

5. It is a key component of indian household spices used

a refresher , spice and a mouth freshener
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR OIL EXTRACTION
:

• Steam generator (Copper Vessel)

• Round bottom flask (500 ml)
• Conical flask
• Condenser
• Glass tubes
• Iron stand
• Sand bath
• Separatory funnel
• Tripod stands
• Burners
Saunf(Aniseed),Ajwain(Carom),Cardamom(Elaichi)
• Petroleum ether(60-80°C)
PROCEDURE:
•Set the apparatus as shown in the picture of Experimental
Setup.
•The apparatus consists of a steam generator connected to
the round bottom flask through a glass inlet tube. The flask is
connected to a water condenser through a glass outlet tube.
Condenser is further attached to a receiver through an
adaptor.
•Take about 750 ml of water in the steam generator and start
heating to produce steam.
•In the round bottom flask take about 100 gm of the crushed
saunf / ajwain / elaichi.
•A vigorous current of steam from steam generator is passed
through the round bottom flask.
•A part of the steam condenses in the round bottom flask. As
more and more steam is passed, the steam volatile
components of the spice pass through the condenser along
with steam. These contents on condensation are collected in
the receiver.
•The contents in the round bottom flask may be heated by a
bunsen burner to prevent excessive condensation of steam.
•The process of steam distillation is continued for 30 min .
•Transfer the distillate to a separating funnel and extract with
20 ml portions of petroleum ether 3 times.
•Combine the petroleum ether extracts in a 250 ml conical
flask and dry it with the help of anhydrous sodium sulpahte.
•Remove the solvent from the dried filtrate by careful
distillation in a water bath. The essential oil is left behind in
the distillation flask.
•Note the colour, odour and weight of the essential oil.
 OBSERVATIONS:
1.Aniseed oil:

• Weight of Saunf taken = 100 gm

• Initial Weight of the bottle = 10gm(x)
• Weight of bottle + essential oil = 11.25 gm(y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted =(y-x) =1.25 gm
Percentage of essential oil = (y/100)*100=1.25 %
• Colour of the oil = Colourless
• Odour of the oil = Saunf like smell.

2.Carom Oil:

• Weight of ajwain taken = 75 gm

• Initial Weight of the bottle = 10 gm(x)
• Weight of bottle + essential oil = 11 gm(y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted =(y-x) =1 gm
• Percentage of essential oil = (y/75)*100=1.33%
• Colour of the oil = Colourless
• Odour of the oil = Ajwain like smell.

3. Cardamom Oil :

• Weight of elaichi taken = 100 gm

• Initial Weight of the bottle = 10 gm(x)
• Weight of bottle + essential oil = 11 .25gm(y)
• Weight of essential oil extracted =(y-x) =1.25 gm
• Percentage of essential oil = (y/100)*100=1.25%
• Colour of the oil = Colourless
• Odour of the oil = elaichi like smell.

RESULT :
Essential oils present in aniseed, carom and
cardamom are extracted from Steam distillation
method.