Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXIV, Issue 2
Written by Denisa CIOTEA, Mona Elena POPA
Essential oils have been used in aromatherapy for centuries because they are easily found in plants and they are usually extracted through a popular method named water distillation. The present study investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of some essential oils. The investigated oils are Basil oil (Ocimum basilicum), Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Peppermint oil (Mentha piperita and Mentha arvensis). They were purchased from Romanian market and they are produced by four different manufacturers. The main volatile constituents of these essential oils are analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry Detector (GC-MSD) and Gas Chromatography coupled with a Flame Ionized Detector (GC-FID). The main compounds detected in Basil essential oil were Estragol and β-Linalool, in Rosemary oil were Eucalyptol (1.8-Cineole), d-Camphor and α-Pinene and in Peppermint oil were Menthan-1-ol and I-Menthone. The antioxidant activity of these oils is evaluated using DPPH method. The highest value for antioxidant activities of Basil essential oil is IC50 = 49.17 mg/ml, for Rosemary essential oil is IC50 = 14 mg/m and for Peppermint essential oil is IC50 = 69.65 mg/ml.
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