Background:
Rhus pentaphylla Desf. (Anacardiaceae) widely grown in Algeria, is an underutilized
plant and remains poorly studied. To investigate for the first time, the chemical composition
profile of essential oil and hydrosol extract; besides Total Phenolic (TPC), Flavonoid (TFC) and Condensed
Tannins Contents (CTC) of fruits, leaves and roots, the fatty acid composition was assessed. The
radical scavenging activity of R. pentaphylla extracts was then evaluated.
Methods:
Essential oil and hydrosol extract were isolated respectively by hydrodistillation and liquidliquid-
extraction from the aerial parts of R. pentaphylla. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using
2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Chemical
compositions of various extracts were investigated using Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass
Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results:
The results of GC and GC-MS analysis revealed 83 components in essential oil and 75 components
in hydrosol extract representing respectively 96.9% and 92.5% of the total extract composition.
The main constituents were hexadecanoic acid (31.5%) followed by spathulenol (14.9%) in the oil while
the higher amount present in the hydrosol extract was of spathulenol (14.2%). Otherwise, 13 and 18
fatty acids were identified in roots and fruits respectively. The highest levels of TPC and CTC were
found in roots extracts while the highest quantity of TFC has been recorded in the leaves extract. Besides,
hydrosol extract was able to scavenge DPPH and FRAP free radicals more efficiently than essential
oil.
Conclusion:
R. pentaphylla contains bioactive substances that could be used as a new promising source
of antioxidant compounds in different applications.
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