Physico-Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activities of Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Eucalyptus citriodora Essential Oils in Ethiopia

Abstract

Eucalyptus is expressed as huge potentials for Ethiopian climatic conditions. Looks for quality of essential oils was an aim for this study. Hydro distillations of fresh leaves were yielded 1.75% (E. globulus) and 2.00% (E. citriodora) essential oils. Major compounds with 1, 8-Cineole (77.24%) and α-Pinene (10.54%) were indentified from E. globules essential oil. Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil was abundant with Citronellal (73.86%) and Citronellol (14.13%). The results of DPPH assay indicated that weak free radical scavenging activities with IC50 value of 795.42 mg/mL for E. globulus, 169.64 mg/mL for E. citriodora and 0.577 mg/mL for the reference Ascorbic acid. The overall quality of E. globules and E. citriodora essential oils are comply the international specifications.