Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oils of Citral-Rich Chemotype Cinnamomum camphora and Cinnamomum bodinieri

Abstract

Citral chemotypes <i>Cinnamomum camphora (C. camphora)</i> and <i>Cinnamomum bodinieri (C. bodinieri)</i> are promising industrial plants that contain abundant citral. For a more in-depth study, their significant biological effect, the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of essential oils of citral-rich chemotype <i>C. camphora</i> and <i>C. bodinieri</i> (EOCC) were determined in the present study. The EOCC yield, obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ranged from 1.45-2.64%. Forty components more than 0.1% were identified and represented, mainly by a high content of neral (28.6-39.2%), geranial (31.8-54.1%), Z-isocitral (1.8-3.2%), E-isocitral (3.2-4.7%), geraniol (1.3-2.6%) and caryophyllene (0.6-2.4%). The antioxidant properties of EOCC were estimated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. As our results indicated, the antioxidant activity was significantly correlated to oxygenated monoterpenes. The variety of <i>C. bodinieri</i> (N7) presented the best antioxidant profile, given its highest inhibition of DPPH radical (IC₅₀ = 6.887 ± 0.151 mg/mL) and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 19.08 ± 0.02 mg/mL). To the best of our knowledge, more than 88% citral of <i>C. bodinieri</i> was investigated and the antioxidant properties described for the first time. Considering high essential oil yield, rich citral content and high antioxidant activity, the N7 variety will be a good candidate for pharmaceutical and cosmetic development of an improved variety.