Study on yield and chemical constituent of pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth collected from different regions in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Patchouli essential oil serves as a crucial raw material in the fragrance and cosmetic industries.Since the late 19 th century, the patchouli plant has been cultivated across various regions of Indonesia's Aceh Province, with notable variations in oil yields and chemical composition depending on environmental conditions and geographic locations.This study examined the yields and chemical constituents of patchouli oil from five regions in Aceh Province, namely Sabang, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, Aceh Selatan, and Gayo Lues.Oil extraction was performed using laboratory steam distillation, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of sesquiterpene hydrocarbon compounds.This analytical approach allowed for precise identification and quantification of the oil's chemical components.The analysis revealed that Sabang produced the highest oil yield at 4.05%, while other regions ranged from 2.2% to 2.9%.Specifically, Aceh Besar yielded 2.2%, Aceh Jaya 2.6%, Aceh Selatan 2.9%, and Gayo Lues 2.6%.Four major sesquiterpene hydrocarbon compounds were identified: -patchoulene, caryophyllene, -guaiene, and aciphyllene.Total sesquiterpene hydrocarbon content varied significantly across regions, with Gayo Lues showing the highest concentration at 84.78%, followed by Aceh Selatan (74.32%),Aceh Besar (68.34%),Aceh Jaya (63.73%), and Sabang (60.83%).Although Sabang demonstrated superior oil yield, Gayo Lues exhibited the highest sesquiterpene hydrocarbon content.This inverse relationship between oil yield and sesquiterpene concentration suggests that environmental factors significantly influence the plant's chemical composition and oil production.Based on these findings, Gayo Lues emerges as the recommended location for mass cultivation of patchouli plants, offering optimal conditions for producing essential oil with high sesquiterpene concentration, which is particularly valuable for the fragrance industry.