ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SYZIGIUM AROMATICUM, ZINGIBER OFFICINALE AND CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM ESSENTIAL OILS
The present study deals with the in vitro study of antioxidant activity of Syzigium aromaticum, Zingiber officinale and Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oils. The in vitro study of antioxidant activity of these essential oils has been done by using β -carotene bleaching assay, FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) method, NO(Nitric oxide radical scavenging assay) and TPC (total phenol content) method. IC50 values observed for NO assay were 12.3 µg/ml for Cinnamomum zeylanicum,13.07µg/ml for Syzigium aromaticum and 18.8µg/ml for Zingiber Officinale essential oils respectively. In beta carotene bleaching method, the oil showed 0.63%, 0.50% , 0.78% bleaching of Clove ,Ginger and Cinnamon for the first hour and it increased to 0.49%,0.39% and 0.55% in second hour respectively. There was a constant increase in the reducing activities with the increase in concentrations in FRAP method. The total phenol content observed for Clove, Ginger and Cinnamon essential oil were 0.75, 0.093 and 0.375mg GAE/ml of oil respectively. In all the methods, BHT and Gallic acid were kept as standards. The results clearly indicate that Syzigium aromaticum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oils possess excellent antioxidant activity and Zingiber officinale essential oil possess moderate antioxidant activity. So, these essential oils are effective in scavanging free radical and have the potential to be powerful antioxidant