Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory potential and chemical constituents of Origanum dubium Boiss., growing wild in Cyprus

Abstract

Origanum dubium Boiss. is a flavouring herb widely used in Cyprus. In this study, both lipophilic and polar extracts of the aerial parts of O. dubium were investigated for their chemical contents and their antioxidant potential. Overall, 20 constituents were isolated and identified, belonging mainly to three significant classes of compounds: terpenes, phenolic derivatives, such as hydroquinone glycosides and flavonoids and alicyclic derivatives. None of them was previously reported as constituent of O. dubium The inhibitory potencies of all total extracts and the isolated compounds on lipid peroxidation and their interaction with 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity is discussed. The polar extract showed strong interaction with DPPH stable radical and significant inhibition of lipoxygenase and lipid peroxidation.

• 1,1-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl stable radical
• flavonoids
• hydroquinone glycosides
• lipid peroxidation
• lipoxygenase
• terpenes

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. T. Vrahimi-Hadjilouca, and Dr. D. Droushiotis (Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus) for the collection and identification of plant material.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.