Effect of extraction method on the yield and biological activities of essential oils of aromatic plants

HOSNI, EMANUEL; RODRIGUEZ, SILVANA; ANA PAULA MURRAY; LORENZETTI, ANABELA

Bahía Blanca

Congreso; LV Reunión Anual de la Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental.; 2024

Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental

The global demand for essential oils (EO) from plants has grown exponentially. EO are used in various industries, from food to medicine, due to their numerous health and personal care benefits. Among aromatic and medicinal plant species, the production of Origanum cv EMMA INTA, commonly known as oregano, is prominent in Argentina. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as an environmentally alternative to traditional organic solvents, offering characteristics such as low toxicity, metabolite solubility, biodegradability, and preservative properties. This study focuses on the use of NADES as extractants and co-solvents in the oregano hydrodistillation process to evaluate the quality, yield, and biological activities of the EO. Three different NADES based on carbohydrates were used to increase the EO yield. The EO quality was evaluated through chemical composition analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the study of biological activities, including acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity. The AChE inhibition of the EO was assessed spectrophotometrically using the Ellman method, and antioxidant activity through DPPH reduction. Essential oils were extracted from the aerial parts of the plants through hydrodistillation and NADES extraction, with different yields and compositions observed among the different NADES. The highest oil yield (1.25%) was obtained for the NADES composition malic acid: fructose: glucose: water 1:1:1:5. The essential oils, containing carvacrol, terpinolene, α-terpinene, and γ-terpinene as main components, exhibited effective antioxidant activity, with an IC50 range of 34.96 to 58.65 μg/mL. Maximum acetylcholinesterase inhibition was observed with an IC50 value of 47.3 μg/mL. These findings suggest that oregano essential oils could have pharmacological applications in preventing oxidative stress-induced diseases.