Juniapa-hinojo sabalero
BOTANICAL NAME
piper auritum H. B. K.
FAMILY
Piperaceae
CULTIVATION CONDITIONS
Grows wild in abundance in open areas in tropical Central
and Southern America. ...
YIELD AND DESCRIPTION
On steam distillation leaves give a mobile clear liquid with a
characteristic odour of "root beer". Yield of oil has been
reported at 0.17% with a safrole content of 70% (Gupta).
MAIN USES
As an alternative to sassafras oil or as a source of essential
oil containing Safrole ...
In Panama it is used as a food condiment and as a fish bait
(Joly). In Mexico it is used as a house plant because of the
heart shaped colourful leaves.
CULTIVATION
Natural cultivation as secondary vegetation after clearing the
high perennial evergreen forest.
PRE-TREATMENT
Wilting prior to distillation is required
PROCESSING METHOD
By hydrodistillation of the dried herb. Water/steam or steam
distillation is satisfactory. The temperature of the condensate
is critical as emulsion or top/bottom separation can result.
The sun dried exhausted herb can be utilized as a fuel.
COMPOSITION OF OIL
Safrole up to 90%
Terpenes
Forty components have been identified (Gupta)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GUPTA, MAHABIR P., ARIAS, TOMAS D., "Safrole, The Main Component
of the essential oil from Piper auritum of Panama". "Journal of
Natural Products" Vol 43 no 2
Mar -Apr pp 3303431.
JOLY, L.G. "Feeding and Trapping Fish with Piper auritum".
"Economic Botany 1981 Vol 35 No 4 pp 383-390
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5043e/x5043e0h.htm