Thymus linearis Benth.: Study on essential oil composition with seasonal variation and biological activities
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Date
2021-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present study was aimed to analyse the phytochemical nature and to evaluate the biological activities of the essential oil of Thymus linearis Benth. collected in two different seasons. The plant material was collected from the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand in rainy season (TLRO) and winter season (TLWO). The oil from the plant material was extracted by hydro distillation using Clevenger type of apparatus and the yield obtained was 1.3% and 1% respectively. The phytochemical analysis of the oils was done by GC and GC/MS. The major component in both the oils was thymol with varying percent composition, i.e., 31.9% in TLRO and 35.7% in TLWO. The other major components in TLRO were γ-terpinene (12.5%) and p-cymene (10.6%) while in TLWO the other major components were p-cymene (12.9%) and borneol (6.1%). The different biological activities of essential oils were performed using standard protocols. In in vitro antiinflammatory activity performed using denaturation of egg albumin protein, TLWO (IC50=26.55±0.03) showed more potent effect. The antioxidant activity as evaluated using three different methods which were DPPH radical scavenging activity, H2O2 radical scavenging activity and metal chelating activity and tested good activity for TLWO compared to TLRO. The antidiabetic activity of oils was analyzed using α-amylase inhibition assay. TLWO showed better inhibition of the enzyme showing its more antidiabetic potential with IC50 value 32.27±0.05. Insect antifeedant activity was performed using leaf dip method against the test insect Spodoptera litura. Significant activity was shown by both the oils but more potent activity was shown by TLWO. The nematicidal activity tested against Meloidogyne incognita demonstrated higher mortality in case of TLWO than TLRO. TLWO also showed more inhibition of hatching of the eggs of Meloidogyne incognita.