Rapid screening of antioxidant bioactive components in blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) essential oil by GC electronic-nose and radical scavenging mechanisms

Abstract

In this study, a gas chromatography-type electronic nose (GC E-nose) was used to identify the chemical components of blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) essential oil (DTEO) and to rapidly screen the antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of these components through combined with the chemical methodology. The results showed that most of the compounds in DTEO had certain scavenging abilities to 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazine (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals, but the radical scavenging abilities were quite different. α-Terpineol, eucalyptol, β-elemene, and epicurzerenone showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging abilities and scavenging rates were 82.5%, 81.4%, 72.4%, and 60.4%, respectively. Eucalyptol, 2-nonanol, myrtenol, and α-terpineol showed the strongest ABTS radical scavenging abilities and scavenging rates were 82.9%, 81.7%, 81.7%, and 78.6%, respectively. Myrtenol and camphor showed the strongest OH radical scavenging abilities and scavenging rates were 55.0% and 53.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanisms of radical scavenging and the structure-activity relationship between the structure and radical scavenging activity were elucidated.