ABSTRACT
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%], beta-pinene [10.4%], alpha-Terpineol [7.63%], gamma-Terpinene [5.64%], alpha-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