Essential Oil Composition, Phenolic Constituents, Antioxidant and Pharmacological Activities of Thymus linearis Benth. Collected from Uttarakhand Region of India

Abstract

sThe essential oil composition of Thymus linearis collected from two different locations (Harinagar; Nainital (TLHEO) & and Dhanachuli Nainital (TLEOD)) were analyzed by combination of GC and GC-MS. Total nine major constituents contributing to 93.6 % were identified in TLHEO and 89.3 % in TLDEO samples. Germacrene-D (65.1 %) and γ-terpinene (19.4 %) were identified as major constituents in TLHEO while thymol (66.8 %) and p-cymene (9.8 %) were identified in TLDEO. The oils and extracts were evaluated for DPPH radical scavenging ability, chelation of Fe2+, and Fe3+ reducing power activities. The oils and extracts both showed good to moderate antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. Both oils and extracts also exhibited significant pharmacological activities (antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities) compared to the standards (paracetamol, indomethacin and ibuprofen) tested on Swiss albino mice. Total phenolic assay of the aqueous ethanolic extracts determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method revealed total phenol (5.15 mg /100 mg), flavonols (0.26 mg /100 mg) and orthodihydroxy phenols (0.4 mg/100 mg) in Harinagar collection and (4.65 mg/ 100 mg), (0.52 mg/100mg) and (0.18 mg/100 mg) in Dhanachuli collection respectively.