Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oils of Citral-Rich Chemotype Cinnamomum camphora and Cinnamomum bodinieri

Abstract

Citral chemotypes Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora) and Cinnamomum bodinieri (C. bodinieri) are promising industrial plants that contain abundant citral. For a more in-depth study, their significant biological effect, the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of essential oils of citral-rich chemotype C. camphora and C. bodinieri (EOCC) were determined in the present study. The EOCC yield, obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ranged from 1.45–2.64%. Forty components more than 0.1% were identified and represented, mainly by a high content of neral (28.6–39.2%), geranial (31.8–54.1%), Z-isocitral (1.8–3.2%), E-isocitral (3.2–4.7%), geraniol (1.3–2.6%) and caryophyllene (0.6–2.4%). The antioxidant properties of EOCC were estimated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. As our results indicated, the antioxidant activity was significantly correlated to oxygenated monoterpenes. The variety of C. bodinieri (N7) presented the best antioxidant profile, given its highest inhibition of DPPH radical (IC50 = 6.887 ± 0.151 mg/mL) and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 19.08 ± 0.02 mg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, more than 88% citral of C. bodinieri was investigated and the antioxidant properties described for the first time. Considering high essential oil yield, rich citral content and high antioxidant activity, the N7 variety will be a good candidate for pharmaceutical and cosmetic development of an improved variety.

Comparative Chemical Composition and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Inhibitory Potential of Cinnamomum camphora and Cinnamomum tamala

“…C. camphora can be categorized into different chemotypes depending on the main compound of its leaf essential oils, namely camphor‐type, linalool‐type, cineol‐type, isonerolidol‐type, and borneol‐type. Citral chemotypes of C. camphora representing neral, geranial, isocitral, geraniol, and caryophyllene as major compounds were also reported from China [33–34] . C. camphora essential oils isolated by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, hydrodistillation, ethanol extraction, and petroleum ether extraction were also found richly composed of sesquiterpenes (α‐phellandrene, α‐terpinene) and oxygenated monoterpenes (β‐terpineol, eucalyptol) [35] .…”

“…Citral chemotypes of C. camphora representing neral, geranial, isocitral, geraniol, and caryophyllene as major compounds were also reported from China. [33][34] C. camphora essential oils isolated by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, hydrodistillation, ethanol extraction, and petroleum ether extraction were also found richly composed of sesquiterpenes (α-phellandrene, α-terpinene) and oxygenated monoterpenes (β-terpineol, eucalyptol). [35] In a previous study by Ahmed et al [36] (E)-caryophyllene (25.3 %), linalool (13.4 %), and caryophyllene oxide (10.3 %) were reported as the main components in C. tamala leaves oil.…”

Design of three-component essential oil extract mixture from Cymbopogon flexuosus, Carum carvi, and Acorus calamus with enhanced antioxidant activity

“…Additionally, carvone has been considered as a protective molecule against lipid peroxidation 12 . Furthermore, the monoterpenes citral, a major component identified in C. flexuosus EO, has also shown promising antioxidant properties 53 , 54 . Similar to monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes can act as direct antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals.…”

Thymus richardii subsp. nitidus (Guss.) Jalas Essential Oil: An Ally against Oral Pathogens and Mouth Health

“…EO ( F ) is rich in oxygenated monoterpenes; these types of compounds possess various biological properties, including antioxidant ones [ 87 ]. Other studies on the antioxidant activity of EO have shown that the abatement ability of ABTS radicals is closely related to the concentration of EOs and has a strong connection with its chemical components, especially its main constituents [ 88 ].…”