Chemical composition of the essential oils of Kewda and Ketaki

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by water distillation of the staminate inflorescences of Kewda (Pandanus fascicularis Lam. var. fasicularis) and Ketaki (P. fascicularis Lam. var. Ketaki) are reported. The major components of kewda oil were found to be 2-phenethyl methyl ether (65.6-75.4%), terpinen-4-ol (11.7-19.5%), p-cymene (1.0-3.1%) and alpha-terpineol (1.2-2.9%), while the major components of ketaki oil were 2-phenethyl methyl ether (66.2%), 4-hydroxy phenol (6.1%), 2-phenethyl alcohol (4.5%), 3-acetyl anisole (2.26%) and p-benzoquinone (1.3%) This is the first report of the chemical analysis of ketaki oil.