Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Four Essential Oils Extracted from Different Parts of Juniperus excelsa

Authors

Saleh N. Al-Busafi, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 36, PC 123, Al-Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Salim H. Al-Saidi, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 36, PC 123, Al-Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Amani I. Al-Riyami, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 36, PC 123, Al-Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Nawal S. Al-Manthary, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box: 36, PC 123, Al-Khod, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Abstract

The chemical contents and compositions of four essential oils extracted from leaves, branches, fruits and gum-resin of Juniperus excelsa from Jabal Al-Akhdhar in the Sultanate of Oman were studied using infra-red (IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). IR analysis revealed the presence of C-H, O-H, C=C and C=O functionality bonds with varied intensities. The GC-MS study showed the occurrence of 35 different monoterpenes of which 11 (31.43%) monoterpenes were shared by the four oils. α-Pinene was detected in branches and gum-resin oils as a major compound with different proportions (80.50% in gum oil and 79.03% in branches oil). The major component in leaf and fruit oils was the monoterpene limonene with proportions of 50.46% and 42.51%, respectively. Sesquiterpenes exist in leaf, branch and fruit essential oils but not in gum-resin oil. The essential oil of the leaves showed stronger antioxidant and radical scavenging activities than the other oils.

Recommended Citation

Al-Busafi, Saleh N.; Al-Saidi, Salim H.; Al-Riyami, Amani I.; and Al-Manthary, Nawal S. (2016) Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Four Essential Oils Extracted from Different Parts of Juniperus excelsa, Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science: Vol. 21: Iss. 1, 7-15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24200/squjs.vol21iss1pp7-15
Available at: https://squjs.squ.edu.om/squjs/vol21/iss1/6