Volatile fraction composition and biological activities of the leaves, bark and fruits of Caucasian wingnut from Iran

Abstract

As a result of GC/MS and GC/FID analysis of the volatile fractions obtained from the leaves, bark, and fruits of Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia L.), 22, 31, and 33 compounds were identified in which aromadendrene (26.3%), biotol (37.8%), and caryophyllene (15.2%) were the main constituents of these oils, respectively. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays and total phenolis contents of extracts were measured using Folin–Ciocalteu method. Among the extracts, bark extract had highest amount of total phenolic content (∼179.5 μg mg⁻¹) and highest free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀=∼17.9 μg mL⁻¹) in DPPH assay and leaves extract showed highest antioxidant capacity (84.1% inhibition) in β-carotene/linoleic acid test. All the three extracts showed moderate antibacterial activities against S. dysenteriae and all volatile fractions showed potent antimicrobial activities against S. epidermidis in both disc diffusion and micro-well dilution tests. The examined samples had low cytotoxic effects based on brine-shrimp lethality assay.

Keywords:

• Caucasian wingnut
• Pterocarya fraxinifolia L.
• volatile fraction
• antioxidant
• DPPH
• β-carotene/linoleic acid
• Folin–Ciocalteu
• antimicrobial
• brine shrimp bioassay