GC-MS analysis and biological activity of hydroalcholic extracts and essential oils of Rhus typhina L. wood (anacardiaceae) in comparison with leaves and fruits

Abstract

Hydroalcoholic extracts (HE) and essential oils (EO) of branches, leaves and fruits of Rhus typhina L., were characterized by GC-MS. HE (yealds: branches 68.30 mg/g, leaves 35.82 mg/g and fruits 257.76 mg/g), showed different compositions dominated by gallic acid (33.46%) in branches, its precursor 1-cyclohexane-3,4,5-hydroxy-carboxylic acid (20.55%) in leaves and malic acid (89.15%) in fruits. EO yields were 210 µg/g for branches (main component δ-cadinene, 22.00%), followed by fruits with 132 µg/g (β-pinene 32.2%) and by leaves with 54 µg/g and phenylacetaldehyde as major component (40.13%). Total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in branches HE (5.87 µg _GAE/mL) and in EO leaves (17.71 µg _GAE/mL). The highest value of radical scavenging activity (DPPH test) was detected in leaves HE and EO. The branches EO antimicrobial activity was strong against C. albicans and negligible against E. coli. Leaves and fruits EO showed strong activity against C. albicans and intermediate activity against Escherichia coli.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Rhus typhina L
• essential oil
• hydroalcoholic extract
• wood
• antioxidant activity
• antimicrobial activity
• GC-MS

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. C. Goggi, Mrs. L. Goggi (Isola S. Antonio, Alessandria, Italy) and Mrs. A. Trecate (Lomello, Pavia, Italy) for access to the plant material.

Disclosure statement

The autors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.