Composition and biological properties of the volatile oil of Artemisia gorgonum Webb

Chem Biodivers. 2010 May;7(5):1325-32. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200900111.

Abstract

The chemical composition of Artemisia gorgonum Webb essential oil from Cape Verde was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total of 111 volatile compounds, accounting for 94.9% of the essential oil, were identified by GC and GC/MS. The major compounds were camphor (28.7%), chrysanthenone (10.8%), lavandulyl 2-methylbutanoate (9.5%), alpha-phellandrene (5.5%), lavandulyl propanoate (4.2%), camphene (4.0%), and p-cymene (3.4%). The volatile oil of this endemic plant, which is used in Cape Verdean folk medicine against several ailments, was tested for its antioxidant and antimalarial properties, and was found to exhibit free-radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), prevention of lipid peroxidation-in vitro by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive species) assay, and antiplasmodial activity.

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / chemistry*
  • Antimalarials / isolation & purification
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Artemisia / chemistry*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / isolation & purification
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Oils