Teucrium polium L. essential oil: phytochemiacl component and antioxidant properties

The essential oil (EO) obtained by hydrodistillation from Teucrium polium L. was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH assay and Beta-carotene/linoleic acid assay. Twenty one components were identified representing (90.4%) of the EO. Main constituents of the essential oil were found as Spathulenol (15.06%), Beta-Pinene (11.02), Beta-Myrcene (10.05), Germacrene B (10.11%), Germacrene D (8.15%), Bicyclogermacrene (8.25%) and Linalool (4.02). This essential oil was able to reduce the stable free radical DPPH with an IC50 of 9200 μg/ml. In Beta-carotene/linoleic acid assay, these samples were not effectively able to complete inhibit the linoleic acid oxidation, exhibiting only 61% inhibitions at 2 mg/ml. These results demonstrate that the T. polium EO possesses antioxidant activity in vitro. Further investigations are needed to verify whether this antioxidant effect occurs in vivo.