Composition of the Essential Oil and Antioxidant Activity of Petroleum Ether Extract of Thuja koraiensis

Abstract

The essential oil and petroleum ether extract from the leaves of Thuja koraiensis were analyzed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Out of 40 peaks, 35 components, which constituted 98.27 % were identified in the oil. The oil was dominated by ketone especially a-thujone. The major components were a-thujone (28.63 %), sabinene (3.99 %), a-fenchyl acetate (2.80 %), bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol 1,7,7-trimethyl acetate (3.30 %), 3-cyclohexen-1- ol, 4-methyl-1-(methylethyl-(9.00 %), camphor (9.40 %), 1-p-menthen-8-yl acetate (5.51 %). Out of 40 peaks, 36 components, which constitute 99.25 % were identified in the petroleum ether extract. The oil was dominated by ketone and acids. The major components of petroleum ether extract were 4-benzyloxy-6-methoxy-o-toluic acid (54.88 %) and 5-methoxy-2,8,8- trimethyl-4H,8H-benzodipyran-4-one (30.25 %). The identity of components of essential oils and petroleum ether extract was confirmed on the basis of retention time, mass and supplemented library. The chemical composition of petroleum ether extract was reported for the first time. The essential oil from the T. koraiensis leaves was investigated for scavenging of the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical activity and the results demonstrate that the essential oil from the T. koraiensis has potenitial as a natural antioxidant and thus inhibit unwanted oxidation process.