Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part F (2025)

In the present investigation essential oil yield, physicochemical properties, and chemical constituents of Blumea lacera by using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were studied at three phenological stages viz, vegetative, mature green, and flowering. The mature green stage produced the maximum essential oil yield (0.233%). This stage also yielded optimum results for specific gravity (0.994 g/cm³), refractive index (1.494), optical density (0.694), viscosity (12.350 cP), and ester value (69.570 mg KOH/g), indicating high oil quality. GC-MS analysis revealed 72 chemicals throughout all stages, including caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, camphene, linalool, and gamma-terpinene, as well as (3,5-heptadienal, 2-ethylidene-6-methyl-), which was discovered primarily in the mature green stage (39.32%). These findings show that harvesting at the mature green stage maximizes essential oil yield and bioactive chemical concentration, offering important insights into medicinal and aromatic benefits of Blumea lacera.