Essential Oil Analysis, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation of Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude Grown in Iran

Abstract

The genus Astrodaucus Drude (family: Apiaceae) is grown in Iran, Iraq, Syria. From temperate regions of Asia, it is raised in Turkey, and from Europe, it is rised in Ukraine. In this research, the methanol extract and essential oil constitution and in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Astrodaucus orientalis were evaluated. GC and GC/MS of the essential oil analysis of the overhead parts showed 73 components representing 99.25% of the oil. Trans-Anethole (57.84%), α-pinene (14.97%), sabinene (5.10%), and β-eudesmol (3.13%) were acquire as the significant components consisting 81.4% of the oil in the aerial parts. The essential oil analysis of the stems and roots showed 44 constituents representing 94.41% of the oil. β-eudesmol (17.20%), palmitic acid (11.40%), spathulenol (8.45%), and α-eudesmol (8.02%) were detected as the major components containing 45.07% of the root extract. The methanol extract was also subjected to screenings to evaluate its antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and β-carotene–linoleic acid tests. The methanol extract of leaves and inflorescences had considerable free radical scavenging activity in both DPPH (IC50 = 53.91 μg/ml), and β-carotene/linoleic acid (inhibition percentage: 68.08%) tests. However, this activity of the methanol extract in stems and roots was not considerable in DPPH (IC50 = 357.64 μg/ml), and β-carotene–linoleic acid (inhibition percentage: 43.07%). Total phenolic content (87.23 and 12.78 μg/mg) was also detected for the methanol extract of the aerial parts and the roots, respectively, as gallic acid equivalent in the Folin–Ciocalteu test. Also, its antimicrobial activity was screened, and good results were recorded for root extract against one of the microorganisms.