Tyrosinase Inhibition, Super Oxide Anion and Nitric Oxide Radical Scavenging Properties of Artemisia absinthium Essential Oil

Abstract

:Water-distilled essential oil from the leaves of Artemisia absinthium L. collected from Ardabil, north-western Iran, was investigated for enzyme inhibition, radical scavenging properties and phytochemical analysis. In this study, total phenolic content (TPC), ferrous-ion chelating (FIC), superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition activity of the leaf essential oil of A. absinthium was determined. TPC of the leaf oil of A. absinthium was determined to be 168.86 ± 9.50 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg sample. The IC of ferrous-ion chelating of A. absinthium oil was 900.32 µg. Superoxide anion and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities of this oil had IC50 of 74.85 µg and 133.34 µg respectively. The IC50 of tyrosinase inhibition activity of A. absinthium oil was 4.52 mg. There was not correlation between ferrous ion chelating activity with total phenolic implying that the oil contain no chelating ligands. The effects of radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition tests are ascribed that the leaf oil of A. absinthium have good potential as a natural antioxidant agent.