Abstract
The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowers of Rhanterium adpressum Coss. & Durieu was analyzed using GC and GC-MS. The essential oil was very rich in monoterpene compounds. The major components identified were the monoterpene hydrocarbons: camphene (21.8%), myrcene (19.3%) and α-pinene (17.4%). Other compounds, including limonene, β-pinene and terpinol-4-ol, were present in low content (4–6%). The composition of the fatty acids in the lipid extract obtained from the flowers was also investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main fatty acids identified were palmitic (47.4%), oleic (12.9%) and stearic acids (10.6%). The total phenolic contents and the antioxidant activities were also evaluated for both extracts. The total phenolic contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the antioxidant activities were measured using three different assays: DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) and a molybdenum assay. As a result of these tests, the lipid extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activities in comparison with the essential oil extract.