Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oils of six Lamiaceae plants growing in Southern Turkey

Abstract

Plants of the Lamiaceae family are rich in polyphenolic compounds, and a large number are well known for their antioxidant properties. In the present study, the essential oils of six species were evaluated for their chemical composition and antioxidant activity.

The species used in the present study were namely Origanum dubium, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, Thymbra spicata, Thymus sipyleus, Satureja cilicica and Ziziphora clinopodioides, respectively. The essential oil contents for Origanum dubium was 4.6%, for Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum 3.4%, Thymbra spicata 1.28%, Thymus sipyleus 1.78%, Satureja cilicica 1.64% and for Ziziphora clinopodioides was 0.35%. The essential oils compositions were determined by GC-MS. Major identified components were carvacrol for O. dubium, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum, and T. spicata; α-pinene for T. sipyleus; and borneol for Z. clinopodioides. Total phenolic contents of essential oils have a very high equivalent amount compared to gallic acid, however, low radical scavenging properties