Chemical diversity and antioxidant activity of essential oils among different accessions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Origanum vulgare</i> L. collected from Uttarakhand region

Abstract

Over 30-55 compounds were identified in the essential oils from five different collections of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Origanum vulgare</i> L. (Family-Lamiaceae) by the combination of GC and GC/MS analysis. Linalool (34.4%), thymol methyl ether (45.2%) and thymol (41.4%-68.5%) were identified as major constituents in different collections. No other monoterpene hydrocarbon was present in collections from site III except α-pinene (0.2%). 1,8-cineol, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">E-</i>β-ocimene, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">trans</i>-sabinene hydrates, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">cis</i>,

p-menth-2-en-1-ol, carvacrol methyl ether, α-muurolene, cubebol, selina-11-en-4- α-ol, spathulenol, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">epi</i>-α–bisabolol and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">epi</i>-α-cadinol though in minor amount were identified only in collections from site V. All the oils exhibited good to moderate <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> antioxidant activity when tested for reducing power activity, 2, 2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and chelating activity of Fe²⁺ ions.