Comparison of chemical composition and antioxidant activities of essential oils from two Iranian Cardamom species: Elettaria and Amomum

The aim of present study was to compare the chemical composition of the essentials oils (EOs) obtained from two Iranian cardamom species of Elettaria and Amomum using GC-MS and chemometric resolution techniques. A total of 56 (Elettaria) and 39 (Amomum) constituents were analyzed and identified using GC-MS. This number was expanded to 97 (Elettaria) and 59 (Amomum) constituents using multivariate curve resolution-alternation least square (MCR-ALS) method. The major constituents of Elettaria EO were α-Terpineol acetate (11.78%), Linalool (10.15%), Nerolidol (8.82%) and α-Pinene (8.11%). In the Amomum EO the main constituents were 1,8-Cineole (54.0%), α-Myrcene (6.4%), β-Pinene (5.1%) and α-Pinene (4.0%). Antioxidant activities of the EOs were also evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging. Elettaria EO showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50=22.1) compare to Amomum EO with IC50=32.3. The results of the present investigation demonstrated significant variations in the EOs’ chemical compositions and antioxidant activities of two Iranian cardamom species of Elettaria and Amomum.

Keywords:

Chemometrics , Cardamom , Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry , Antioxidant activity