Dev Mani Pandey
Birla Institute of Technology, India
Title: Enrichment of essential oil components in Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt): A novel approach
Biography
Biography: Dev Mani Pandey
Abstract
Citronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon winterianus and is extensively used as a mosquito repellent, in perfume industry, shows antibacterial and insecticidal activity; effective inhibitor of biodegrading and storage contaminating fungi and in fruit juice preservation, repelling properties on the tick and free radical scavenging. This oil contains medicinally important compounds like nerol, citronellol and geraniol, etc. that are synthesized during its metabolic pathways. Since geraniol dehydrogenase is responsible for the degradation of nerol, citronellol and geraniol. Characterisation of these compounds was performed using HPTLC, ESI MS and FTIR techniques. Therefore, looking the strategies to inactivate geraniol dehydrogenase enzyme by blocking gene encoding this enzyme might be helpful to enrich the content of above mentioned compounds. Also, in silico analysis of GDH gene via molecular docking with potent inhibitors and subsequent study on their individual interactions in enzyme- inhibitor assays will be preliminary yet beneficial for blocking the enzyme activity. The effect of selected inhibitors on the suspension cultures derived from callus proved to be a novel approach for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry thereby accumulating the essential oil components in vivo.