Essential Oil Profile and Antioxidant Activity of 𝐶𝑦𝑚𝑏𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑔𝑜𝑛 Species of Ethiopian Cultivars

Essential oil biosynthesis is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, the quality and quantity of essential oils obtained across various growing origins have not been defined as similar specifications. Accordingly, this work aimed to characterize the physical and chemical profiles of essential oils obtained from C. citratus, C. flexuosus, and C. winterianus. Besides, the antioxidant activity of each species of essential oil was tested by DPPH assay method. Hydro distillation of lemongrass leaves yielded ۰.۷۱% (C. citratus) and ۰.۳۷% (C. flexuosus) of essential oil with majorly constituted as citral (۷۵% and ۸۰%), β- myrecene (۱۰.۷۹% and ۱۳.۹۵%), geranyl acetate (۹.۵۰% and ۰.۶۲%), and geraniol (۲.۷۱% and ۳.۰۱%), respectively. Cymbopogon winterianus had an essential oil yield of ۰.۸۸% and abundant in a compound of citronellal (۵۰.۶۳%), geraniol (۲۱.۳۵%), citronellol (۱۳.۰۲%), and α-elemol (۱۱.۷۲%). Specific gravity, refractive index (۲۰ °C), and optical rotation were measured as ۰.۸۷, ۱.۴۸۶۴۵۹, and ۰° (C.citratus); ۰.۸۸, ۱.۴۸۳۳۹, and ۰° (C. flexuosus); ۰.۸۷, ۱.۴۷۲۸۳۵, and -۴.۳۳° (C. winterianus), respectively. The DPPH assay test revealed that the essential oils and reference compound have a poor antioxidant potential with antioxidant activity index of ۰.۰۰۰۲ (C. citratus and C. flexuosus), ۰.۰۰۱۴ (C. winterianus), and ۰.۰۷ for the reference ascorbic acid. Overall, the presented profile of essential oils conformed to the monograph of different countries and ISO specifications. Therefore, Cymbopogon species of Ethiopian cultivars have a good quantity and quality of essential oils for commercial production.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antioxidant ، Cultivar ، Cymbopogon ، essential oil ، Ethiopia