Planta Med 2011; 77 - PE45
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282376

Composition and antioxidant activities of the essential oil of Murraya paniculata leaves growing wild in Cubans mountain

E Jorge 1, JM Herrero 2, Y Vander Heyden 3, G Ramis 2, E Simó Alfonso 2, MJ Lerma 2, Y Saucedo 1, U Monteagudo 1, L Vicet 1, B Holgado 1, L Bravo 1
  • 1Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Central University „Marta Abreu“ of Las Villas, C-54830 Santa Clara, Cuba
  • 2Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Valencia, e-46100 Burjassot (Valencia), Spain
  • 3Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel-vub, Belgium

Murraya paniculata (Linn.) Jack, syn. M. exotica Linn, known as orange jessamine, belongs to the family Rutaceae and is commonly grown in gardens is commonly grown in gardens for its glossy green foliage and large clusters of fragrant flowers (1). This plant has been used in ethnomedicine. Infusion of the leaves and flowers of M. exotica is tonic and stomachic. It is said to be aromatic, refrigerant, digestive, and beneficial in rheumatic fever, coughs, giddiness, hysteria, thirst, and burning of the skin (2,3). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using several in vitro studies. The results showed that the essential oils tested differed in their chemical compositions although there is coincidence in the most abundant constituents. The analysis of Murraya paniculata volatile oil showed the presence of eighteen compounds identified, accounting for 95.1% of the total amount. The major component of both oils was found the Caryophyllene (30%), with the other components in lesser amounts. The antioxidant activity has shown good activity for the inhibition of primary and secondary oxidation products in crude Cucurbita oil added at the concentration of 0.02% which were evaluated using peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, p-anisidine values. Moreover, it was further supported by complementary antioxidant assay in linoleic acid system, comparable with synthetic and natural origin antioxidants (butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), carvacrol and timol).

References: 1. Roig JT (1974) Plantas medicinales, aromáticas o venenosas de Cuba. Ed. Científico-Técnica. La Habana.

2. Jiangsu New Medical College (1977) Dictionary of Chinese Herbal Medicine; Shanghai Science & Technology Press: Shanghai, China.

3. Pery LM (1980).Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses; MIT Press: Cambridge