Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extracts of Ferula microcolea (Boiss.) Boiss (Apiaceae)

The essential oils of Ferula microcolea, collected from west Iran were obtained by hydrodistillation during the flowering stage and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Under the optimum conditions of analysis, 22 constituents (mainly monoterpen compounds) were identified in Ferula microcolea, representing 93.6% of the oil. The main constituents were α-pinene (27.3%), β-pinene (16.4%), nonanal (8.7%), β-caryophyllene (8.5%), and thymol (6.7%). The samples were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the first case, the free radical-scavenging activity of polar sub-fraction of methanol extract showed to be superior as compared to other extracts (IC₅₀ = 34.3 ± 0.3 μg/ml). Nonpolar sub-fraction of methanol extract exhibited stronger activity than the essential oil. In the case of the linoleic acid system, oxidation of the linoleic acid was effectively inhibited by the polar sub-fraction of methanol extract (86.5 ± 0.9%), while the oil and nonpolar sub-fraction of methanol extract were less effective (55.2 ± 0.4% and 81.5 ± 0.8%, respectively).     

Composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and extracts of Stachys inflata Benth from Iran

Composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil and methanol extract polar and nonpolar subfractions of Stachys inflata were determined. GC and GC/MS analyse of the essential oil showed 45 constituents representing 95.46% of the oil, the major components linalool (28.55%), α-terpineol (9.45%), spathulenol (8.37%) and (2E)-hexenal (4.62%) constituted 50.99% of it. Essential oil and extracts were also tested for their antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays. In the DPPH test, IC₅₀ value for the polar subfraction was 89.50 μg/ml, indicating an antioxidant potency of about 22% of that of butylated hydroxytoluene (IC₅₀ = 19.72 μg/ml) for this extract. In β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, the best inhibition belonged to the nonpolar subfraction (77.08%). Total phenolic content of the polar and nonpolar extract subfractions was 5.4 and 2.8% (w/w), respectively. The plant also showed a week antimicrobial activity against three strains of tested microorganisms. Linalool and α-terpineol were also tested as major components of the oil and showed no antioxidant but considerable antimicrobial activities.     

GC/MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant activity of essential oil and methanol extracts of Thymus caramanicus Jalas and its main constituent carvacrol

Chemical composition of the essential oil, antioxidant activity (DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays), and total phenolic content (Folin–Ciocalteu assay) of aerial parts of Thymus caramanicus were determined. The highest radical-scavenging activity (DPPH test) was shown by the polar subfraction of the methanol extract (IC₅₀ = 43.0 μg/ml) which was also higher than that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, IC₅₀ = 19.7 μg/ml). However, it was the nonpolar subfraction of the methanol extract that showed the highest inhibition (84.4%), as assessed by the β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, which was only slightly lower than that shown by BHT (93.3%). The antioxidant activities of the essential oil main component (carvacrol) were also evaluated for comparison. Total phenolic content of the polar subfraction, as gallic acid equivalents, was 124.3 μg/mg. Essential oil extracted from the aerial parts by hydrodistillation was analysed by GC and GC/MS. Fifteen constituents, representing 99.3% of the oil, were identified, of which the major ones, carvacrol (85.9%), thymol (3.3%), p-cymene (3.2%), γ-terpinene (1.8%) and borneol (1.3%), accounted for 95.6% of the oil.     

Chemical Composition,Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oil and Ethanol Extract of Coriandrum sativum L. Leaves from Turkey

This study reports the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and ethanol extract of Coriandrum sativum L. leaves. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis identified 19 compounds representing 95.30% of the oil. (E)-2-decenal (29.87%), linalool (21.61%), (E)-2-dodecenal (7.03%), dodecanal (5.78%), (E)-2-undecenal (3.84%), (E)-2-tridecenal (3.56%), (E)-2-hexadecenal (2.47%), tetradecenal (2.35%), and α-pinene (1.64%) were the main components identified in the essential oil. The samples were screened for their antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and β-caroten bleaching assay. IC₅₀ value for ethanol extract of C. sativum was determined as 74.87 ± 0.03 μg/mL. Total antioxidant activity value for C. sativum ethanol extract was 85.85 ± 0.04%. Total phenolic content for ethanol extract of the plant was determined as 14.97 ± 0.05 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight. The essential oil and ethanol extract were also tested for antimicrobial activity against 28 different foodborne microorganisms, including 19 bacteria, 7 fungi, and 2 yeast species. The ethanol extract of the plant showed weak antimicrobial activities against microbial strains in both disc diffusion and minimal inhibition concentration tests. This study suggested that Coriandrum sativum L. leaves may be used as a potential source of food flavoring, and for their antioxidants and antimicrobial properties.     

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and various extracts of Salvia tomentosa Miller (Lamiaceae)

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and various extracts (prepared by using solvents of varying polarity) of Salvia tomentosa (Miller). The essential oil was particularly found to possess strong antimicrobial activity while other non-polar extracts and subfractions showed moderate activities while polar extracts remained almost inactive. GC and GC/MS analyses of the oil resulted in the identification of 44 compounds, representing 97.7% of the oil; β-pinene (39.7%), α-pinene (10.9%) and camphor (9.7%) were the main components. The samples were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the first case, the free radical scavenging activity of aqueous methanol extract (MW) was superior to all other extracts (IC₅₀=18.7 μg/ml). Polar extracts exhibited stronger activities than non-polar extracts. In the case of the linoleic acid system, oxidation of the linoleic acid was effectively inhibited by the polar subfraction of the MW extract, while the oil was less effective. The MW extract showed 90.6% inhibition, that is close to the synthetic antioxidant BHT.     

Essential oil composition,antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Mosla chinensis Maxim

The essential oil of Mosla chinensis Maxim was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and its main components are carvacrol (57.08%), p-cymene (13.61%), thymol acetate (12.68%), thymol (6.67%), and γ-terpinene (2.46%). The essential oil exhibited great potential antimicrobial activity against all eight bacterial and nine fungal strains. Antioxidant activity was also tested, the essential oil showing significantly higher antioxidant activity than that of the methanol extract. In addition, the amounts of total phenol components in the plant methanol extract (47.3 ± 0.4 μg/mg) and the oil (80.7 ± 0.5 μg/mg) were determined. The results presented here indicate that the essential oil of M. chinensis has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and is therefore a potential source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents for the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analyses for Detection and Identification of Antioxidant Constituents of Achillea tenuifolia Essential Oil

The present work was designed to study the antioxidant activity and to identify the main active components of the essential oil of Achillea tenuifolia aerial parts. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of the essential oil showed the presence of 22 compounds. The main constituents of the oil were thymol (15%), α-pinene (10.11%), Camphene (9.41%), β-pinene (7.54%), α-terpinene (7.21%), p-cymene (4%), 1,8-cineole (2.31%), γ-terpinene (7%), linalool (10%), and carvacrol (20.43%). The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Achillea tenuifolia oil was evaluated by using 2,20-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assays. The oil exhibited a considerable dose-dependent antioxidant activity. Thymol showed clearly a higher activity (IC50 = 10.04 ± 0.1 μg/ml) followed by Achillea tenuifolia essential oil (15.12 ± 0.4 μg/ml). Antioxidant activity guided fractionation of the oil was carried out by the thin layer chromatography-bioautography screening and fractionation resulted in the separation of the main antioxidant compound which was identified as thymol (80%).     

Essential Oil and Phenolic Compounds of Artemisia herba-alba (Asso.): Composition,Antioxidant, Antiacetylcholinesterase,and Antibacterial Activities

Total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, and flavanols of the methanolic extract of the aerial part of Artemisia herba-alba were determined. The extract was analyzed by liquid chromatography with photodiode array coupled with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and allowed to identify of 10 phenolic compounds. Apigenin-6-C-glycosyl flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids were identified. Chlorogenic acid and 1,4 dicaffeoylquinic acid being the major constituents. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Twenty-three compounds, representing 97.8% of the total oil, were identified. The most abundant components were β-thujone (41.9%), α-thujone (18.4%), and camphor (13.2%). Methanolic extract and essential oil exhibited a considerable antioxidant activity as evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-pycrilhydrazil hydrate scavenging activity, reducing power, β-carotene bleaching test, and chelating ability. The methanolic extract was found to be more efficient, while the essential oil exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Analysis of the antibacterial activity showed that A. herba-alba methanolic extract and essential oil are efficient against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.     

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity of Volatile Oils from Japanese Edible Wild Plants (Diplazium Squamigerum,Laportea Macrostachya,and Vitis Coignetiae)

The volatile oils from the Japanese wild edible plants of Diplazium squamigerum, Laportea macrostachya, and Vitis coignetiae were investigated by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major components of D. squamigerum oil were linalool (28.7%), palmitic acid (13.9%), and α-terpineol (5.5%); of L. macrostachya oil were palmitic acid (14.1%), nonanal (9.2%), and linoleic acid (8.9%); and of V. coignetiae oil were nonanal (13.2%), geraniol (11.6%), and phenylacetaldehyde (8.5%). These oils were assayed to determine their antioxidant activity by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay using fluorescein as the fluorescent probe. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity values varied from 1255 ± 393 trolox equivalents (μmol TE/g) for D. squamigerum oil, from 514 ± 65 μmol TE/g for L. macrostachya oil, and from 911 ± 118 μmol TE/g for V. coignetiae oil. The difference in the antioxidant activities among D. squamigerum oil, L. macrostachya oil, and V. coignetiae oil were attributed to their different monoterpene alcohol contents and composition in the samples. These data provided evidence that the volatile oil from Japanese edible plants is a good dietary source of antioxidants.     

Targeted phenolic analysis in Hericium erinaceum and its antioxidant activities

The ABTS⁺-radical-cation scavenging activity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and nitrite scavenging activity of the methanol extract from Hericium erinaceum and its subfractions were assessed. Among the methanol extract subfractions tested, the chloroform subfraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity in the most experiments, except for the ferric reducing/antioxidant power. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of the chloroform subfraction was 378.89 μmol/g of sample. This subfraction also scavenged 35.80% of DPPH radicals at 500 μg/mL. The highest ferric reducing/ antioxidant power was found in the n-hexane subfraction (174.82 μmol FeSO₄·7H₂O/g). The chloroform, n-hexane, and n-butanol subfractions had high total phenolic compound content, with ferulic acid equivalents of 35.18, 19.08, and 11.23 mg/g, respectively. Flavonoids were found mostly in the chloroform subfraction, and the 4 phenolic compounds were identified in the same fraction as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, 4-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid by electrospray ionization (ESI) LC-MS/MS analysis.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extracts of Bidens frondosa Linn

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of essential oil, extract and its fractions of Bidens frondosa Linn were evaluated. Sixty‐one components representing 95.41% of the total oil were identified. The essential oil (7.5 μL disc^?1), methanol extract and its different organic subfractions (0.5 μg disc^?1) of B. frondosa displayed a great potential of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538 and KCTC 1916), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19116, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCTC 2004, Salmonella enteritidis KCTC 12021 and Enterobacter aerogenes KCTC 2190. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging activity of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction was superior to all other fractions (IC₅₀ = 11.96 μg mL^?1), which was higher than synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole, (IC₅₀ = 18.27 μg mL^?1). Furthermore, the amount of total phenolic compounds was determined and its content in EtOAc fraction was the highest as compared to methanol extract or other fractions. The results indicate that the oil and extracts of B. frondosa could serve as an important bio‐resource of antimicrobial agents and antioxidants for using in the food industries.     

Oregano: chemical analysis and evaluation of its antimalarial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities

Abstract: GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis of essential oil from oregano leaves (Origanum compactum) resulted in the identification of 46 compounds, representing more than 98% of the total composition. Carvacrol was the predominant compound (36.46%), followed by thymol (29.74%) and p‐cymene (24.31%). Serial extractions with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water were performed on aerials parts of Origanum compactum. In these extracts, different chemical families were characterized: polyphenols (gallic acid equivalent 21.2 to 858.3 g/kg), tannins (catechin equivalent 12.4 to 510.3 g/kg), anthocyanins (cyanidin equivalent 0.38 to 5.63 mg/kg), and flavonoids (quercetin equivalent 14.5 to 54.7 g/kg). The samples (essential oil and extracts) were subjected to a screening for antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS assays) and antimalarial activities and against human breast cancer cells. The essential oil showed a higher antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀= 2 ± 0.1 mg/L. Among the extracts, the aqueous extract had the highest antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀= 4.8 ± 0.2 mg/L (DPPH assay). Concerning antimalarial activity, Origanum compactum essential oil and ethyl acetate extract showed the best results with an IC₅₀ of 34 and 33 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, ethyl acetate extract (30 mg/L) and ethanol extract (56 mg/L) showed activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF7). The oregano essential oil was considered to be nontoxic.     

Antioxidant property of aroma extract isolated from clove buds [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry]

Aroma extract from dried clove buds [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry] was obtained by using steam-distillation under mild conditions (55°C and 95 mm Hg). The antioxidant property of the aroma extract was evaluated in two different assays. The aroma extract isolated from clove buds inhibited the oxidation of hexanal for 30 days at a level of 50 μg/ml. Clove bud extract inhibited malonaldehyde formation from cod liver oil by 93% at the 160 μg/ml level. Twenty-two compounds were identified in the extracts of clove buds by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major aroma constituents of clove buds were eugenol (24.371 mg/g) and eugenyl acetate (2.354 mg/g). Eugenol, eugenyl acetate, and benzyl alcohol inhibited the oxidation of hexanal by 99, 99, and 82%, respectively, for a period of 30 days at 500 μg/ml. Eugenol, eugenyl acetate, and benzyl alcohol inhibited malonaldehyde formation from cod liver oil by 88, 79, and 63%, respectively, at 160 μg/ml. The antioxidant activity of clove bud extract and its major aroma components, eugenol and eugenyl acetate, were comparable to that of the natural antioxidant, α-tocopherol (vitamin E).     

Antioxidant activity of the essential oil and various extracts of Nepeta flavida Hub.-Mor. from Turkey

This study was designed to examine the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of the essential oil and various extracts (hexane, dichloromethane and methanol sub-fractions) of Nepeta flavida. GC and GC–MS analyses of the essential oil resulted in the identification of 68 compounds, representing 96.4% of the oil; 1,8-cineole (38.9%) and linalool (25.1%) were the main components, comprising 64.0% of the total oil. The samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activities by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the first case, the IC₅₀ value of the N. flavida essential oil was determined to be 42.8 ± 2.19 μg/ml. Among the extracts, the strongest activity was exhibited by the polar sub-fraction of the methanol extract with an IC₅₀ value of 63.2 ± 1.75 μg/ml. In the β-carotene-linoleic acid system, N. flavida essential oil exhibited 86.3% ± 1.69 inhibition against linoleic acid oxidation. Among the extracts prepared with various solvents, a correlation was observed between the polarity and antioxidant activity. The extracts exhibited the same activity pattern in this system the most active one is the polar sub-fraction, 79.7% ± 0.89. On the other hand, 1,8-cineole, a major compound of the essential oil, exhibited marked antioxidant activity in both systems, whereas the other compound, linalool, did not show any activity. The amount of total phenolics was highest in the polar and non-polar sub-fractions. Particularly, a positive correlation was observed between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the extracts. As estimated from the results, amounts of phenolic compounds were less in hexane and dichloromethane extracts than in the others. In conclusion, antioxidant potentials of polar and non-polar methanol sub-fractions could be attributed to their high phenolic contents. In both systems, antioxidant capacities of BHT, ascorbic acid, curcumin and α-tocopherol were also determined in parallel experiments.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil and various oleoresins of Elettaria cardamomum (seeds and pods)

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the chemical analysis of the essential oil and various oleoresins of Elettaria cardamomum (seeds and pods) by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques. It also compares the effects of the different extraction solvents used (chloroform, methanol, ethanol and diethyl ether) on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil and oleoresins. RESULTS: The essential oil was found to contain 71 compounds. The major components were α‐terpinyl acetate (44.3%), 1,8‐cineole (10.7%), α‐terpineol (9.8%) and linalool (8.6%). The chloroform and methanol oleoresins both contained α‐terpinyl acetate (21.8 and 25.9% respectively) as the main component, while 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (28.9%) was the most abundant compound in the ethanol oleoresin. However, very few components (total 0.61%) were found in the diethyl ether oleoresin. The antioxidant activities of the essential oil and oleoresins, studied in mustard oil by monitoring the peroxide value of the oil substrate, were comparable to those of the synthetic antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 0.02% concentration. The essential oil exhibited strong antibacterial activity against the micro‐organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi at 3000 ppm by the agar well diffusion method. Antifungal activity was tested against the food‐borne fungi Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium purpurogenum, Fusarium graminearum and Penicillium madriti. The methanol and ethanol oleoresins gave the best results against A. terreus at 3000 ppm by the poison food method. CONCLUSION: This study provides important information about the chemistry and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of E. cardamomum. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Biological activities of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Micromeria fruticosa (L) Druce ssp serpyllifolia (Bieb) PH Davis plants from the eastern Anatolia region of Turkey

The in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Micromeria fruticosa ssp serpyllifolia as well as the composition of the essential oil were examined. The essential oil exhibited activity against 14 bacteria, three fungi and a yeast, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 31.25 to 125 µl ml^?1, whilst the methanolic extract was inactive. Antioxidant activity was measured by two methods, namely scavenging of the free radical DPPH and inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation. The methanolic extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity in both assays, providing 50% inhibition at 70.9 ± 0.5 µg ml^?1 concentration in the DPPH assay and inhibiting linoleic acid oxidation to 59% at 2 mg ml^?1 concentration, whilst the essential oil showed activity only at higher concentrations. The gallic acid equivalent total phenolic content of the methanolic extract was found to be 55.2 ± 2.00 µg mg^?1 dry weight extract (5.5% w/w). The chemical composition of the hydrodistilled essential oil was analysed by means of GC/MS. Twenty‐nine constituents were identified, the main ones being piperitenone (50.61%) and pulegone (29.19%). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nutritional constituents,phytochemical profiles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> antioxidant and antimicrobial properties,and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of various solvent extracts from grape seeds (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.)

The present study revealed that the nutritive value of grape seeds (Vitis vinifera L.) was 383.55±0.13 Kcal/100 g, with magnesium as the most abundant mineral element (70.44±0.88 mg/L). The maximum phenolic (392.58±1.70mg of GAE/g), flavonoid (256.16±1.60 mg of QE/g), and tannin (30.95±0.17mg of CE/g) contents were also found in the ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane extracts, respectively. The major phytochemical compounds in the ethyl acetate extract were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. The ethanol extract has the highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀=140±1.20 μg/mL for DPPH, 145.28±0.45mg α-tocopherol/g for total antioxidant capacity, and EC₅₀=80±1.41 μg/mL for ferric-reducing power assays). For β-carotene test, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained in the hexane extract. A satisfactory antimicrobial activity was found against a panel of microorganisms with the ethyl acetate extract as the best antimicrobial agent. Additionally, it was found that the bactericidal concentration required for the grape seed extract to kill Listeria monocytogenes should be less than 12.50 mg/mL (minimum inhibitory concentration=4).     

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil and extracts from Ocimum sanctum

The objective of the present research work was to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antimalarial activities of essential oil and various extracts from O. sanctum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified the following major compounds with their quantification as: eugenol (22.0%), β-elemene (19.2%), β-caryophyllene (19.1%), and Germacrene D (5.03%). HPLC analysis of O. sanctum extracts revealed that gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumeric acid, sinapic acid, and ferulic acid were the important phenolic acids. The methanol extract exhibited highest level of total phenolic (1.36 g/100 g dry plant material) and total flavonoid (0.67 g/100 g dry plant material) followed by ethanol and n-hexane extracts. The oil and extracts exhibited excellent free radical scavenging potential as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical free radical-scavenging ability, and antioxidant activity as measured by inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation. Essential oil, n-hexane, methanol, and ethanol extracts exhibited moderate antimalarial potential in term of anti-haem biocrystallization activity. In the resazurin microtitre plate and disc diffusion assays, the essential oil of O. sanctum showed better antibacterial activity than various extracts. The results of the present investigation demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) variations in the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimalarial activities of essential oil and extracts from O. sanctum.     

Investigation of the antioxidant properties of Ferula orientalis L. using a suitable extraction procedure

The present work examines the in vitro antioxidant properties of the essential oil and various extracts prepared from the herbal parts of Ferula orientalis A. (Apiaceae). The highest 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity was found in the polar extract, e.g. methanol–water (1:1), obtained from non-deodorised materials with IC₅₀ values at 99.1 μg/ml. In the β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, the deodorised acetone extract exhibited stronger activity than the polar one. The relative antioxidant activities (RAA%) of the extracts ranged from 10.1% to 76.1%, respectively. Extraction with methanol–water (1:1) mixture was concluded to be the most appropriate method in terms of higher extract yield, as well as effectiveness, observed in both assays. Although the essential oil showed antioxidative potential, it was not as strong as that of positive control (BHT). GC/MS analysis of the essential oil resulted in the identification of 39 compounds, β-phellandrene (23.6%), (E)-β-ocimene (13.8%), α-pinene (12.5%), α-phellandrene (11.5%) and dehydro-sesquicineole (10.1%) being the major components.     

Phenolic profile,antioxidant, anticholinesterase,and anti-tyrosinase activities of the various extracts of Ferula elaeochytris and Sideritis stricta

In this study, the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and anti-tyrosinase properties of (hexane, acetone, methanol, and water) extracts of Ferula elaeochytris and Sideritis stricta were determined with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The phenolic profile of the methanol and water extracts was analysed using HPLC-DAD. Protocatechuic acid was found as the major phenolic compound in the methanol (116.3 ± 3.1 µg/g) and water extracts (69.4 ± 1.3 µg/g) of F. elaeochytris. Coumarins (253.9 ± 4.1 µg/g) and catechin hydrate (175.2 ± 2.9 µg/g) were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the methanol and water extracts of S. stricta. β-carotene–linoleic acid, DPPH^?, ABTS^?+, CUPRAC, and metal-chelating assays were used to evaluate antioxidant properties of the extracts. The methanol and water extracts of F. elaeochytris and the acetone and methanol extracts of S. stricta containing the highest amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed the highest antioxidant activities in β-carotene–linoleic acid, DPPH^?, ABTS^?+, and CUPRAC assays. The enzyme inhibitory potential of extracts was investigated against key enzymes involved in neurodegenerative (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)) and skin (tyrosinase) disorders. In the cholinesterase inhibitory assays, the hexane extracts of two species exhibited the best activity against AChE, while the hexane extract of F. elaeochytris and the methanol extract of S. stricta observed to be the most active against BChE. As for anti-tyrosinase activity results of extracts, the only acetone and methanol extracts showed mild inhibitory activity for both species.