Essential oil compositions and antioxidant properties of Cycas revoluta (Thunb.)

Anifalaje Eniola Olabisi Anifalaje Eniola Olabisi,Odeja Oluwakayode Olubunmi Odeja Oluwakayode Olubunmi

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.2.0203

Anifalaje Eniola Olabisi Anifalaje Eniola Olabisi, Odeja Oluwakayode Olubunmi Odeja Oluwakayode Olubunmi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.2.0203

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Abstract

Cycas revoluta is an ornamental plant which has had some of its parts used in treating some forms of cancers, relieving headaches, giddiness and sore throat. Essential oils from both fresh and air-dried C. revoluta leaf and stalk samples were obtained by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus with the constituents identified and quantified by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The fresh leaf and stalk essential oils had 22 and 45 identified essential oil components respectively while the air-dried parts had 25 leaf essential oil and 18 stalk essential oil components. γ-ketovaleric acid (29.36 %), 2,4,4-Trimethyl-2-pentene (13.27 %), lauric acid (9.84 %) and 7-Nonenamide (58.71 %) constituted the major components of the fresh leaf, fresh stalk, dry leaf and dry stalk essential oils respectively. Free radical scavenging ability of the essential oils was assayed with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and the four essential oil samples recorded anti-oxidant activities which were concentration dependent with the dry leaf essential oil exhibiting the highest activity at 1 mg/mL with a 72 % inhibition. These values were comparable with the currently known antioxidant standards.

Highlights

Cycas revoluta (Thunb) is the only known genus of the family, Cycadaceae
This paper focuses on identification of the chemical constituents and antioxidant properties of the essential oils from the fresh and dry leaves and stalk of C. revoluta
A voucher specimen with voucher number FHI 6013157596 was deposited at the Herbarium of the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan where the plant was identified and authenticated

Summary

Introduction

Cycas revoluta (Thunb) is the only known genus of the family, Cycadaceae. It is a popular ornamental plant known as sago or long sago palm [1, 2]. Cycas revoluta (Thunb) has become very popular for indoor decorations and has been used for outside landscaping for centuries. C. revoluta appears to be the most studied followed by C. circinalis due to their chemical constituents and biological activities. Both have been found to contain toxin, cycasin - an azoxy-glucoside that is carcinogenic [4]. The presence of saponins, tannins and sugars in the chloroform and hydro-alcoholic extracts of C. revoluta leaves has been reported [6]

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