Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil and Its Components

• DOI: 10.1021/jf035377d
• Publication Date: 2004-05-12T04:53:34Z
• Authors: Hyun-Jin Kim; Feng Chen; Changqing Wu; Xi Wang; Hau Yin Chung; Zhengyu Jin
• Keywords: Melaleuca alternifolia; Hexanoic acid; Butylated hydroxytoluene

Antioxidant activity of Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil (TTO) was determined using two different assays. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, 10 microL/mL crude TTO in methanol had approximately 80% free radical scavenging activity, and hexanal/hexanoic acid 200 exhibited 60% inhibitory against oxidation hexanal to hexanoic over 30 days. These results were equivalent antioxidant activities mM butylated hydroxytoluene both tests at same experimental conditions. This indicated that could be a good alternative antioxidant. Inherent antioxidants, i.e., alpha-terpinene, alpha-terpinolene, gamma-terpinene, separated identified chromatographically silica gel open chromatography, C(18)-high-pressure liquid gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their decreased following order assays: alpha-terpinene > alpha-terpinolene gamma-terpinene.