Chemical composition and biological properties of Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty syn. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash- A Review

Abstract

Vetiver [Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty syn. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash] commonly known as khas-khas, khas, khus-khus or khus grass belongs to the family Poaceae. The roots of this grass on steam distillation yield an essential oil mainly consisting of sesquiterpenes (3-4 %), sesquiterpenols (18-25 %) and sesquiterpenones (7-8 %). Among these, the major economically important active compounds are khusimol, α-vetivone and β-vetivone which constitute about 35 % of oil. The commercial grades, viz. Dharini, Gulabi and Kesari and Pusa Hybrid-7, Hybrid-8, Sugandha, KH-8, KH-40, are available in North India and South India, respectively for commercial cultivation. The insecticidal, antimicrobial, herbicidal and antioxidant activities of essential oil and its components like vetivone, zizanal, epizizanal and nootkatone are well known. This review is an effort to collect all the information regarding chemical composition and biological activities of vetiver oil.