CHEMICAL STUDIES ON COSTUS-SPECIOSUS KOEN. SM. SEEDS

Abstract

The results of detailed chemical investigations carrried out on seeds of Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm. from Dehra Dum have shown a yield of 6.0% of a sweet smelling fatty oil which may find use in perfume industries. This fatty oil on gas liquid chromatographic analysis showed 55.97% palmitic acid and 23.75% oleic acid besides other fatty acids. The defatted seeds contained 1.91% diosgenin (an important raw material for synthesis of steroidal hormones) and three sugars i.e., glucose, galactose and rhamnose.