Juniapa-hinojo sabalero

I. GENERAL

COMMON NAME

Juniapa. Hinojo Sabalero

BOTANICAL NAME

Piper auritum H. B. K.

FAMILY

Piperaceae

OTHER NAMES

Juniapa, Piper auritum

CULTIVATION CONDITIONS

Grows wild in abundance in open areas in tropical Central and Southern America. Has teen cultivated in Mexico, Vera Cruz State in trial plots by the Institute Nacional de Investigaciones Sobre Recursos Bioticos.

MAJOR PRODUCING COUNTRIES

Panama and Brazil. No commercial production reported

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, the chemical raw material for the manufacture of Heliotropin (Fragrance material) and Piperonyl Butoxide (Pyrethum synergist).

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.

 

II. AGRICULTURAL ASPECTS

CULTIVATION

Natural cultivation as secondary vegetation after clearing the high perennial evergreen forest.

HARVESTING PERIOD

Not reported

HARVESTING METHODS

By hand

 

III. POST HARVEST TREATMENT, PRESERVATION, STORAGE

PRE-TREATMENT

Wilting prior to distillation is required

PRESERVATION

None required

STORAGE

In good quality drums

 

IV. PROCESSING

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)

EQUIPMENT

Harvesting equipment

Stills

Boiler

There is no identifiable information for the following areas: PROCESSING, oil extraction, equipment and nomenclature of products.

 

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

 


Part III - Minor essential oil crops - III. Individual monographs - 3.8 Juniapa-hinojo sabalero

"Minor oil crops" (Part I - Edible oils, Part II - Non-edible oils, Part III - Essential oils)
FAO AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BULLETIN No. 94
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, Rome, 1992
prepared by B.L. Axtell from research by R.M. Fairman
Intermediate Technology Development Group, Rugby, UK
M-17, ISBN 92-5-103128-2, (c) FAO 1992