Evaluation of antioxidant activity of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) oil and identification of its antioxidant constituents

J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Oct 5;53(20):7691-5. doi: 10.1021/jf050833e.

Abstract

Antioxidant capacities of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) oil were evaluated by two different in vitro assays: the DPPH* free radical scavenging assay and the Fe2+-metal chelating assay. Results showed that the vetiver oil (VO) possessed a strong free radical scavenging activity when compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and alpha-tocopherol. However, its metal chelating capacity was relatively weak. VO (10 microL/mL) dissolved in methanol exhibited approximately 93% free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH* assay and approximately 34% Fe2+ chelating activity in the metal chelating assay. By contrast, 10 mM BHT and 0.1 mM alpha-tocopherol exhibited 93 and 89% free radical scavenging activities in the DPPH* assay, respectively, and 1 mM EDTA exhibited approximately 97% activity in the metal chelating assay. Among the complex constituents in the crude VO, beta-vetivenene, beta-vetivone, and alpha-vetivone, which had shown strong antioxidant activities, were isolated and identified using various chromatographic techniques including silica gel open column chromatography, silica HPLC, and GC-MS. These results show that VO and some of its inherent components can be potential alternative natural antioxidants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene / pharmacology
  • Edetic Acid / pharmacology
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Iron Chelating Agents / chemistry
  • Picrates
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Poaceae / chemistry*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Picrates
  • Plant Oils
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene
  • Edetic Acid
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • alpha-Tocopherol