Evaluation of the antioxidant properties and GC-MSD analysis of commercial essential oils from plants of the Lamiaceae family

Abstract

Plants of the Lamiaceae family have been used for thousands of years in cooking, as well as phyto- and aromatherapy. Their essential oils are characterized by high antioxidant and other types of biological activities. In our study, the phytochemical profile and quantification of the essential oil components of thyme, marjoram, and sage were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection (GC-MSD). The antioxidant properties of the samples were evaluated using total antioxidant parameters (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing power (FRP), antioxidant activity (AOA) towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), and total phenolics by Folin–Ciocalteu method). The obtained FRP was 46–321-fold lower than TAC, which is consistent with the contents of phenolics identified in the samples. Terpenes, isopropylmethylphenols, and eugenol turned out to be the major components of all essential oils and determined their TAC and AOA. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was applicable to the thyme essential oil only. Its FRP, which is based on the reaction of phenolic antioxidants with electrogenerated ferricyanide ions, agreed well with the total phenolic contents (329 ± 17 and 334 ± 15 mg of carvacrol per mL, respectively). The thyme essential oil had the highest antioxidant parameters, while sage showed the weakest antioxidant properties. Positive correlations (r = 0.8846–0.9964) of the antioxidant parameters were obtained.

Keywords

• essential oils
• total antioxidant capacity
• ferric reducing power
• total phenolics
• coulometric titration
• phytochemical profile
• marjoram
• thyme
• sage