Plant	Scientific Name	Family	Economic Part	Major Active Compound/Oil	Major Uses
Ashwagandha	Withania somnifera	Solanaceae	Roots	Withanolides	Stress reliever, immunity booster, tonic
Tulsi (Holy Basil)	Ocimum sanctum (O. tenuiflorum)	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Eugenol	Cold, cough, fever, immunity
Aloe vera	Aloe barbadensis Miller	Asphodelaceae	Leaves	Aloin, Aloe gel	Cosmetics, skin care, burns
Sarpagandha	Rauvolfia serpentina	Apocynaceae	Roots	Reserpine	High blood pressure, sedative
Isabgol	Plantago ovata	Plantaginaceae	Seeds (Husk)	Psyllium	Constipation, digestive disorders
Senna	Cassia angustifolia	Fabaceae	Leaves & Pods	Sennosides	Natural laxative
Kalmegh	Andrographis paniculata	Acanthaceae	Whole plant	Andrographolide	Liver disorders, fever
Brahmi	Bacopa monnieri	Plantaginaceae	Whole plant	Bacosides	Memory enhancer
Shatavari	Asparagus racemosus	Asparagaceae	Roots	Shatavarins	Women’s health, tonic
Giloy (Guduchi)	Tinospora cordifolia	Menispermaceae	Stem	Tinosporin	Immunity booster
Neem	Azadirachta indica	Meliaceae	Leaves & Seeds	Azadirachtin	Biopesticide, antiseptic
Turmeric	Curcuma longa	Zingiberaceae	Rhizome	Curcumin	Anti-inflammatory, spice
Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Zingiberaceae	Rhizome	Gingerol	Digestion, nausea
Garlic	Allium sativum	Amaryllidaceae	Bulb	Allicin	Heart health, antimicrobial
Amla	Phyllanthus emblica	Phyllanthaceae	Fruits	Vitamin C	Antioxidant, immunity
Safed Musli	Chlorophytum borivilianum	Asparagaceae	Roots	Saponins	Health tonic, aphrodisiac

Plant	Scientific Name	Family	Economic Part	Major Oil/Compound	Major Uses
Lemongrass	Cymbopogon flexuosus	Poaceae	Leaves	Citral	Perfumes, soaps, flavouring
Citronella	Cymbopogon winterianus	Poaceae	Leaves	Citronellal	Mosquito repellent
Palmarosa	Cymbopogon martinii	Poaceae	Leaves	Geraniol	Perfumes, cosmetics
Mentha (Japanese Mint)	Mentha arvensis	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Menthol	Toothpaste, medicines
Peppermint	Mentha piperita	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Menthol	Pharmaceutical industry
Spearmint	Mentha spicata	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Carvone	Flavouring, chewing gum
Vetiver (Khus)	Chrysopogon zizanioides	Poaceae	Roots	Vetiver Oil	Perfumes, cooling products
Patchouli	Pogostemon cablin	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Patchouli Oil	Perfumes, incense
Lavender	Lavandula angustifolia	Lamiaceae	Flowers	Linalool	Aromatherapy, perfumes
Rose Geranium	Pelargonium graveolens	Geraniaceae	Leaves	Geraniol	Perfumes, cosmetics
Rosemary	Salvia rosmarinus	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Cineole	Essential oils, medicines
Sweet Basil	Ocimum basilicum	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Linalool	Culinary herb, perfumes

Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds extracted from different plant parts such as leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, bark, and fruits.

Used for: Lemongrass, Citronella, Palmarosa, Mint, Eucalyptus, Lavender

Process: Fresh Plant Material → Steam Generation → Steam passes through plant material → Oil + Steam Vapours → Condenser (Cooling) → Oil + Water Mixture → Oil Separator (Florentine Flask) → Pure Essential Oil

Used for: Rose petals, medicinal herbs, delicate flowers

Process: Plant Material + Water → Boiling → Oil Vapours → Condensation → Oil Separation

The plant material is placed on a perforated platform above water, and steam passes through it.

Used for: Vetiver, Spices, Herbal plants

Used only for citrus fruits.

Process: Citrus Peel → Mechanical Pressing → Oil + Juice → Filtration → Essential Oil

Examples: Lemon, Orange, Lime, Bergamot

Used for delicate flowers that are damaged by heat.

Process: Flowers → Organic Solvent → Concrete → Alcohol Extraction → Absolute Oil

Examples: Jasmine, Tuberose, Rose

Uses carbon dioxide under high pressure.

Advantages: High-quality oil, No solvent residue, Natural aroma retained

Used for: High-value medicinal plants, Premium essential oils

Crop	Method
Lemongrass	Steam Distillation
Citronella	Steam Distillation
Palmarosa	Steam Distillation
Mentha	Steam Distillation
Lavender	Steam Distillation
Eucalyptus	Steam Distillation
Vetiver	Steam Distillation
Rosemary	Steam Distillation
Patchouli	Steam Distillation
Rose	Steam Distillation / Solvent Extraction
Jasmine	Solvent Extraction
Tuberose	Solvent Extraction
Lemon	Cold Pressing
Orange	Cold Pressing
Lime	Cold Pressing

• Most economical
• Produces pure essential oil
• Suitable for most aromatic plants
• Easy commercial operation

Medicinal Plant	Active Compound
Ashwagandha	Withanolides
Tulsi	Eugenol
Aloe vera	Aloin
Neem	Azadirachtin
Turmeric	Curcumin
Ginger	Gingerol
Garlic	Allicin
Sarpagandha	Reserpine
Senna	Sennosides
Isabgol	Psyllium
Brahmi	Bacosides
Kalmegh	Andrographolide

Aromatic Plant	Oil/Compound
Lemongrass	Citral
Citronella	Citronellal
Palmarosa	Geraniol
Mentha	Menthol
Spearmint	Carvone
Vetiver	Vetiver Oil
Lavender	Linalool
Rosemary	Cineole
Patchouli	Patchouli Oil

Institute	Location
ICAR-DMAPR (Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research)	Anand, Gujarat
CSIR-CIMAP (Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants)	Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
NMPB (National Medicinal Plants Board)	New Delhi

Crop	Major State
Mentha	Uttar Pradesh
Lemongrass	Kerala, Karnataka
Citronella	Assam
Ashwagandha	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Aloe vera	Rajasthan, Gujarat
Isabgol	Gujarat
Senna	Tamil Nadu
Turmeric	Telangana, Maharashtra
Ginger	Kerala, Meghalaya

Question	Answer
Scientific name of Ashwagandha	Withania somnifera
Active compound of Ashwagandha	Withanolides
Scientific name of Tulsi	Ocimum sanctum
Active compound of Tulsi	Eugenol
Scientific name of Aloe vera	Aloe barbadensis
Active compound of Aloe vera	Aloin
Scientific name of Sarpagandha	Rauvolfia serpentina
Alkaloid of Sarpagandha	Reserpine
Scientific name of Isabgol	Plantago ovata
Medicinal part of Isabgol	Seeds
Scientific name of Senna	Cassia angustifolia
Active compound of Senna	Sennosides
Scientific name of Lemongrass	Cymbopogon flexuosus
Major oil of Lemongrass	Citral
Scientific name of Citronella	Cymbopogon winterianus
Major oil of Citronella	Citronellal
Scientific name of Mentha	Mentha arvensis
Major oil of Mentha	Menthol
Scientific name of Palmarosa	Cymbopogon martinii
Major oil of Palmarosa	Geraniol
Scientific name of Vetiver	Vetiveria zizanioides
Economic part of Vetiver	Roots
Active compound of Turmeric	Curcumin
Active compound of Garlic	Allicin
Active compound of Ginger	Gingerol
Active compound of Neem	Azadirachtin
CSIR institute for MAPs	CIMAP, Lucknow
ICAR institute for MAPs	DMAPR, Anand

Question	Answer
Father of Medicinal Plants Research in India	Dr. R.L. Chaudhary
Highest menthol-producing state	Uttar Pradesh
Isabgol is cultivated for	Seeds (Psyllium husk)
Reserpine is obtained from	Sarpagandha
Curcumin is obtained from	Turmeric
Citral is obtained from	Lemongrass
Menthol is obtained from	Mentha
Geraniol is obtained from	Palmarosa
Azadirachtin is obtained from	Neem
Aloe gel is obtained from	Aloe vera
Most common method of essential oil extraction	Steam Distillation
Citrus oils are extracted by	Cold Pressing (Expression)
Jasmine oil is extracted by	Solvent Extraction
Oil separator used in distillation	Florentine Flask (Oil Separator)

👉 Steam Distillation: Most aromatic grasses and herbs (Mentha, Lemongrass, Citronella, Palmarosa)
👉 Cold Pressing: Citrus fruits (Orange, Lemon, Lime)
👉 Solvent Extraction: Delicate flowers (Jasmine, Tuberose, Rose)
👉 CO₂ Extraction: Premium, high-value oils