Composition, in vitro Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Machilus konishii from Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

The chemical composition and in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the leaf essential oil of Machils konishii has been investigated. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Sixty-six compounds were identified, representing 100% of the oil. The main components identified were a-pinene (33.9%), α-pinene (13.9%), and thymol (12.0%); The leaf oil was able to reduce nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-activated murine macrophages RAW 264.7 without reducing the cell viability. In addition, the leaf oil showed strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The major ingredient of the oil that was responsible for the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities was thymol.