Effect of extraction methods on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Egyptian marjoram (Majorana hortensis Moench)

Abstract

The volatile extract compositions of marjoram (Majorana hortensis Moench) leaves obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were estimated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); 26 components were identified. The major compounds in both extracts were terpinen-4-ol (20.39% and 10.96%), γ-terpinene (14.13% and 8.14%), trans-sabinene hydrate (5.25% and 20.54%), linalool (3.72% and 4.06%), trans-sabinene hydrate acetate (0% and 13.01%), thujanol (4.00% and 4.12%), terpinolene (4.57% and 3.70%) and thymol (0.33% and 1.18%) in HD and SFE extracts, respectively. The total monoterpene hydrocarbons are higher in HD oil (42.57%) than that of SFE extract (22.80%). However, the SFE extract possessed higher concentrations of light oxygenated compounds, which give the oil a superior aroma. Both extracts effectively inhibited the peroxide formation of linoleic acid. The antioxidant property of the SFE extract is markedly higher than that of butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) and HD extract, which might be due to the presence of higher contents of γ-terpinene, terpinolene and thymol. At higher concentrations, both extracts showed higher antioxidant activity compared to BHA. In order to enhance the activity of the natural extracts examined and decrease the applicability of synthetic antioxidants, the synergistic effect was also studied by adding BHA to either extracts. The mixture of either extracts and BHA results in an additive effect of their antioxidant capacities in comparison to their individual activity.

Chemical composition and insecticidal potential of essential oils from Egyptian plants against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…judaica, A. santolina, C. reticulata, E. camaldulensis, L. camara, M. microphylla, and M. hortensis were similar to previous reports on the chemistry of these oils isolated from plants growing in Egypt or other countries (Traboulsi et al, 2002(Traboulsi et al, , 2005Bader et al, 2003;Tsiri et al, 2003;El-Ghorab et al, 2004;Abdel-Hady et al, 2005;Njoroge et al, 2005); however, the concentrations of the major compounds were significantly and/or slightly different. These changes in essential oil compositions might arise from several environmental (climatical, seasonal, geographical) and genetic differences (Ravid et al, 1992;Perry et al, 1999).…”

Antioxidant activity and free radical‐scavenging capacity of ethanolic extracts of thyme, oregano, and marjoram

“…adduct than that of the green-tea extract. The antiradical activity of extracts Numerous studies have shown that a strong antioxidant and antiradical capacities are generated by essential oils from Satureja cilicica, thyme, oregano, and marjoram [7,[39][40][41][42]. Of the volatile extracts demonstrating antioxidant activity, the major compounds identified to date in marjoram are terpinen-4-ol, g-terpinene, trans-sabinene hydrate, linalool, trans-sabinene hydrate acetate, thujanol, terpinolene, thymol [40]; in thyme these are thymol, carvacrol, g-terpinene, myrcene, linalool, p-cymene, limonene, 1,8-cineole and a-pinene [43]; and in oregano these are benzyl alcohol, eugenol, 2-phenylethanol, thymol, 3-hexen-1-ol, and carvacrol [44].…”

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Lavender and Marjoram Essential Oils

“…Similarly, the essential oil of M. hortensis cultivated in India was mainly composed of monoterpenes and to a small extent sesquiterpenes (55) . M. hortensis oil from different countries possessed terpinen-4-ol as a major constituent representing 38.40% ( Reunion Island), 30.55% ( mid hills of north India), 24.25% (South India), 22.02% (subtropical India), 20.39% (Egypt) and 19.7% (Germany) (26,55,(57)(58)(59)(60) . However, linalyl acetate (26.1%) followed by sabinene (12.0%) were the principle components of marjoram oil of Iran origin (61) .…”

“…In China, the most abundant component in Lavender essential oil is 1,5-Dimethyl-1-vinyl-4-hexenyl butyrate (43.73%), followed by 1,3,7-octatriene, 3,7-dimethyl-(25.10%), eucalyptol (7.32%) and camphor (3.79%) (32) . On the other hand, the major components of marjoram from different countries were found to be terpinen-4-ol, gamma-terpinene, α-terpineol, sabinene and trans-sabinene hydrate (26,33) .…”

“…Marjoram is well known for its medicinal and insecticidal values (24) . The plant is also reported to possess anticancer (25) , antioxidant (12,26) and antimicrobial activities (27,28) .…”