Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of three Lamiaceae species from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The components of essential oils of rosemary, sage and lavender were investigated by GC-MS and assayed for their antioxidant activities. The plants were collected after the end of the vegetative cycle. The principal components of sage essential oil were 1,8-cineole (28.03%), α-thujone (11.98%), veridiflorol (11.17%), and α-humulene (11.0%). Rosemary essential oil was mainly composed of α-pinene (14.02%), camphor (13.62%), 1,8-cineole (13.02%), borneol (12.45%), and berbenone (10.04%). Predominant compounds in lavender essential oil were 1,8-cineole (40.68%) and camphor (29.82%). Antioxidant activity was examined by two different methods: the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method and determination of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The results indicate that the tested essential oils have low antioxidant activity compared to synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In relation to the other oils investigated, rosemary essential oil showed the highest antioxidant activity by both methods.