GC-MS analysis of Vespa velutina auraria Smith and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in vitro

Abstract

Vespa velutina auraria Smith is an edible and medicinal insect in China. This study demonstrated the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities and the volatile composition identification determined by Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity screening results showed that the ethanol extracts of both the fresh and dried samples exhibited an efficient antioxidant activity for three models, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid diammonium salt) free radicals scavenging capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The anti-inflammatory activity screening in vitro indicated that ethanol extracts had considerable inhibitory effect on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in macrophages, but had no influence on IL-6 expression. GC-MS analyses of volatile composition of V. auraria identified 46 components, representing 75.76% of the total peak areas from fresh sample, and 34 components, 84.70% of the total peak areas from dried ones. The volatile constituents were very different in the petroleum ether part of fresh and dried ones. The three major components are hentriacontane (7.76%), n-hexadecanoic acid (6.54%), and palmitoleic acid (4.50%) in the fresh sample, while they are benzeneacetaldehyde (13.11%), dodecanoic acid (7.08%), and oleic Acid (6.72%) in the dried sample.