Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oil and Methanol Extract of Aerial Parts of Ziziphora clinopodioides Var. rigida

Introduction:  Plants are a rich source of phenolic compounds that as natural antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and are very good for health. Ziziphora clinopodioides belongs to Lamiaceae family and its aerial parts are used in pharmaceutical and food industries. It is effective in the treatment of heart disorders, cold, depression, diarrhea, coughing, migraine and fever. This study aimed to identify the composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants. Method: Ziziphora clinopodioides was collected from Bardsir Mountains (Kerman province) and dried in shade. Essential oil was obtained by hydro distillation method using Clevenger apparatus. Essential oil was analyzed using GC/MS apparatus. Methanol extract was concentrated by rotary evaporator. Possible antioxidant activities of the essential oil and extract were studied using beta carotene linoleic acid and DPPH methods. Results: The major constituents of essential oil were (+) –pulegone (52.41%), dihydrocarvyl acetate (14.13 %), 1.8-cineole (12.98%) and D-neoisomenthol (4.19 %). The extract of flower had the highest antioxidant activity (the least IC50) in DPPH assay while in beta carotene linoleic acid, the essential oil of flower had the highest antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The main component of essential oil of Ziziphora clinopodioides collected from Bardsir (Kerman province) was pulegone. The essential oil and methanol extract of this plant showed remarkable antioxidant activities; therefore, it can be used as an antioxidant in food and pharmaceutical industries.