Profiling Essential Oil Chromolaena Odorata Leaves Using GC-MS Hydrodistillation

Abstract

Indonesia, as an agrarian country, possesses a wide diversity of medicinal plants that are potential sources of essential oils, including Siam weed leaves (Chromolaena odorata L.), which are known to be rich in secondary metabolites and traditionally used as antimicrobial and wound-healing agents. This study aimed to profile the chemical components of essential oil from Siam weed leaves obtained by hydrodistillation as baseline data to support the exploration of its pharmacological potential. The essential oil was extracted using the hydrodistillation method with a Clevenger apparatus, then analyzed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify volatile compounds based on retention time, mass spectra, and percentage peak area. The analysis revealed 40 volatile compounds belonging to monoterpene, sesquiterpene, aromatic ether, and other cyclic compound classes, with major components including ?-pinene, ?-pinene, limonene, ?-caryophyllene, germacrene D, and ?-cadinene, which are known to exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. These findings indicate that hydrodistillation is effective for obtaining essential oil from Siam weed leaves and that its terpenoid-dominated chemical profile supports further development as a natural resource for pharmaceutical applications and plant-based antimicrobial products.