Vettiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides)

Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is not consumed as a food crop, so conventional macronutrient data (protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber per 100g) are not established in standard food composition databases. Its value lies entirely in its bioactive phytochemical profile, primarily extracted from roots and essential oil: Essential Oil Composition (root-derived): • Vetiverol (mixture of sesquiterpene alcohols): ~45-65% of essential oil • β-Vetivone: ~3-8% • α-Vetivone: ~2-6% • Khusimol (= zizanol): ~5-15% • Isovalencenol: ~3-9% • Vetiselinenol: ~1-4% • Khusimone: ~1-3% • Vetivenic acid: trace to ~2% • Total sesquiterpene content: >90% of oil composition • Minor constituents include furanoid sesquiterpenes (e.g., zizaene, prezizaene) Phenolic & Flavonoid Content (root extract, solvent-dependent): • Total phenolic content: ~18-85 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry extract (varies significantly with extraction solvent — ethanol > water > hexane) • Total flavonoid content: ~8-35 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g dry extract • Identified phenolics include gallic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillic acid in trace quantities Minerals (root tissue, approximate): • Potassium: ~0.8-1.2% dry weight • Calcium: ~0.2-0.5% dry weight • Magnesium: ~0.1-0.3% dry weight • Iron: ~100-400 mg/kg dry weight • Zinc: ~20-60 mg/kg dry weight (Note: Vetiver is known as a hyperaccumulator and values vary enormously with soil conditions; these are not intended for dietary intake.) Antioxidant Capacity: • DPPH radical scavenging IC50: ~25-120 µg/mL (ethanolic root extract) • ABTS radical scavenging: moderate activity, comparable to low-potency antioxidant herbs • FRAP values: ~150-400 µmol Fe²⁺/g dry extract Other Bioactive Compounds: • Saponins: detected in root extracts (not quantified precisely in most studies) • Tannins: present in moderate concentrations (~1-3% dry weight of root) • Alkaloids: trace or absent • Essential oil yield from roots: ~0.5-3.0% (w/w on dry basis), highly dependent on age of roots (optimal at 12-18 months), distillation method, and ecotype (North Indian 'Khas' type vs. South Indian/Haitian types) Bioavailability Notes: • Sesquiterpene compounds are lipophilic with moderate oral bioavailability; absorption is enhanced in oil-based or emulsified formulations. • Phenolic compounds from aqueous or hydroalcoholic extracts have variable bioavailability (estimated 5-20% for simple phenolics like gallic acid). • Vetiver is primarily used via aromatherapy (inhalation), topical application, or as traditional decoctions — not as a caloric food source. Nutritional profiling in the conventional sense is therefore of limited relevance. • Heavy metal bioaccumulation capacity of vetiver roots means sourcing and soil quality are critical safety considerations if any oral preparation is used.