GC-MS analysis and biological evaluation of essential oil of zanthoxylum rhesta (Roxb.) Dc pericarp

The present study reports the chemical composition,antioxidant,antibacterial,antidiarrheal as well as the spasmolytic activity of zanthoxylum rhetsa (dc) essential oil,fractionated oil and its principal constituent (terpinen-4-ol). the constituents of essential oil were characterized by gc-fid and gc-ms. the pharmacological and biological activities of oil,its fraction and principal constituent were carried out in-vivo and in-vitro. the oil was rich in a group of monoterpene family,constituted mainly of terpinen-4-ol (25.43%),sabinene (16.50%),β-pinene (10.4%),α-terpineol (7.63%),γ-terpinene (5.64%),α-pinene (4.33%),and linalool (3.25%). the antioxidant capacities of the oil,fractions and terpinen-4-ol were assessed by using spectrophotometry to measure free radical scavenger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (dpph). furthermore,the oil,its fractions and terpinen-4-ol exhibited appreciable antioxidant,antibacterial,antidiarrheal and non-selective spasmolytic activity. the study suggests that the oil and its main active constituent (terpinen-4-ol) of the studied plant would have high potential in the treatment of stress and gastrointestinal diseases. © 2015 dar publishers/the university of jordan. all rights reserved.