Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil of Pulicaria Inuloides

Abstract

In order to evaluate the potential of medicinal effects of the popular edible Pulicaria inuloides Yemen, the methanol, ethanol and diethyl ether extracts from leaves of Pulicaria inuloides were analyzed for their antioxidant properties. The major components of the oil of P. inuloides were 2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-methyl-5-(1-methyl (56.8%), Benzene, methyl-(21.7%), Z.citol 2.00. The total phenol, flavonoid, contents of sample were measured by Folin Ciocalteu and Alcl 3 assays. Results showed that methanol extract from leaves of Pulicaria inuloides has more contents of total phenols and total flavonoid (91.2 ± 09.5, 89.9± 0.61 and 64.9±07. mg(GAE)/g respectively) and the level of total tannin and total anthocyanins contents were not identical in the extracts. Results from antioxidant activity assays showed that methanol in DPPH radical scavenging, B-carotene bleaching assays and metal-chelation is more active than diethyl ether extract. This study suggested that the differences of the potency of the antioxidant activity may be explained by the differences in the polyphenol and flavonoid levels.