Variation of Essential Oil Composition, Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Activities between Pinus halepensis Mill. Plant Organs

Abstract

: The essential oils extracted from different organs of Pinus halepensis were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS and evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-butyrylcholinesterase activities. The composition and biological activities of essential oils extracted from immature cones, juvenile needles and male inflorescences were analyzed for the first time. The common compounds of the investigated essential oils were α-pinene (6.4 to 46.1 %), β-myrcene (5.5 to 28.3 %), β-caryophyllene (1.3 to 32.8 %), β-caryophyllene oxide (2.7 to 66.6 %) and α-humulene (2.4 to 5.8 %). Significant variations of essential oil composition were detected between the investigated plant parts. The analyzed essential oils exhibited antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities. These activities varied significantly among organs. The essential oil of needles showed the highest antiradical activity with DPPH assay (0.31 mg eq Trolox/g EO). However, for ABTS radical scavenging assay, juvenile needles showed the uppermost antioxidant activity (2.52 mg eq Trolox/g EO). Male inflorescences possessed the most important chelating activity (267.43 mg eq EDTA/g EO). Essential oils of juvenile needles exhibited the highest antiacetylcholinesterase activity (1.37 mg eq dopenzil/g EO). Male inflorescences revealed the most important activity against butyrylcholinesterase (57.442 mg eq dopenzil/g EO).