Extraction, physico-chemical characterization and stability monitoring of essential oil from matricaria recutita l grown in Selected areas in Kenya

Abstract

Extracts were obtained from Matricaria recutita L. flowers by cold solvent extraction using different solvents, Clevenger distillation and solvent extraction combined with Clevenger distillation (SECD); this was done to compare the yield and quality of the different extracts providing information for optimization of extraction and the composition of flowers from selected regions. The extracts were characterized using TLC, UV-Vis spectrometry, IR spectrometry and GC-MS. UV-Vis scanning and measurement of refractive index (R.I) of the chamomile essential oil were carried out at monthly and/or bi-monthly intervals to determine if they could be used to monitor the stability and changes in quality of the essential oil. Isolation of components of chamomile essential oil by preparative TLC was also done to obtain standards that can be used for future characterizatio.