R.M. Dharmadasa^1,, Asitha Siriwardana¹, Kosala Samarasinghe¹, Adhihetty P.¹

Gyrinops walla Gaertner. (Thymelaeaceae), is an endemic resinous plant used in traditional medicine, perfume production, incenses, aroma therapy and cosmetic industry. Due to the high economic value, large-scale smuggling of G. walla from Sri Lanka has been practiced for a long time. Therefore, present study was undertaken to study the phytochemical and volatile oil components of G. walla. Phytochemical analysis of leaf, bark and stems were performed according to the methods described in WHO guidelines. Aerial parts were hydro-distilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus for 8 h. Oil was analyzed using GC-MS and identification of components of volatile oils was carried out based on retention indices and fragmentation patterns of the mass spectra. Phytochemical screening of leaf, stem and bark crude extracts of G. walla revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, steroid glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids in all three parts tested. Thin layer chromatographic profiles observed under UV light at 366 nm exhibited higher number of spots in CH₂Cl₂ extracts for all three parts followed by hexane and methanol fractions, respectively. Sky blue spot present in all three fractions [hexane (R_f = 0.83), dichloromethane (R_f = 0.66) and methanol (R_f = 0.77)] of stem extracts was characteristic to the stem extract. The yield of the essential oils obtained from stem parts of G. walla was 0.20 ± 0.01%. Major constituents, which exist more than 1% in heartwood of G. walla oil, were gamma-selinene (72.49%), 3-Phenyl-2-butanone (2.04%), 3-pentanone (2.02%), beta-patchoulene (1.37%) respectively. Present study reports the presence of preliminary phytochemicals, TLC finger prints and GC-MS analysis of essential oil of G.walla for the first time in Sri Lanka. Presence of high content of γ-selinene and β-patchoulene (73.86%) indicates potential for commercial production of world class perfume and other scented products.

Gyrinops walla Gaertner, Thymelaeaceae, essential oil, Thin Layer Chromatography, GC-MS, phytochemicals