Spatial influence on the important volatile oils of Piper nigrum leaves

Abstract

Piper nigrum L. is found in a vast altitudinal diversity, and shows great adaptability to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions, which leads to inter-species diversity. P. nigrum collected from the Western Ghats of Karnataka and Kerala were studied for the leaf volatile oil with the help of gas chromatography and the results are plotted in a map with the help of Arc-GIS software to understand the influence of location. Though 7–15 compounds were detected from volatile oils in different accessions, maximum variability was observed with respect to β-caryophyllene and nerolidol in the leaf oil of P. nigrum and the influence of location on these components is significant.