Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre essential oil

Abstract

The essential oil isolated from the resin of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Burseraceae) by hydrodistillation was analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and combined Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The analysis led to the identification of 28 components. This oil contained mainly monoterpenoids (96.06%) in which p-acetyl anisole is the single benzenic compound (0.18%). The predominant constituents in the essential oil were δ-3-carene (72.31%), p-cymene (3.76%), limonene (4.04%), terpinolene (6.28%) and α-terpineol (4.34%). The essential oil showed antioxidant and weak DPPH radical scavenging activities and it displayed the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.   Key words: Aucoumea klaineana, Burseraceae, essential oil,  antioxidant activity.