Isolation, Chemical Analysis, and Free Radical Scavenging Activity of the Volatile Components of two Moringa species

ABSTRACT

Background: An increase of oxidative species in our body is implicated in the expansion and progression of chronic diseases. Identification of new natural antioxidants resources may provide hopeful expectancies for the upgrading of human healthcare concerning the prevention of the expansion of the chronic diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to perform the isolation, chemical analysis, and antioxidative activity of the volatile oils of Moringa peregrina and Moringa oleifera from Saudi Arabia. Method: The volatile oils were isolated by hydrodistillation method. The physicochemical characteristics were also analyzed by the reported methods. The DPPH method was used to assess the antioxidant potential of the isolated oils. Result: The hydrodistillation method provided the volatile oil from M. peregrina and M. oleifera in 0.06% and 0.05% yield, respectively. The color, odour, solubility in water, ethanol, methanol, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and petroleum ether, refractive index, and the acid value of these isolated oils were similar. The isolated volatile oils from M. peregrina and M. oleifera provided good IC50 values, which were 85.48% and 85.57%, respectively, with respect to ascorbic acid (100%). Conclusion: It is expected that the chemical composition of the volatile oils of these two species of Moringa might be similar, which can be identified by their GC-MS analysis. Accordingly, further investigations are suggested.