Mohsen Taheri Shirazi - Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz
Gholamreza Kavoosi - Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz

Tagetes minuta (TM) is an aromatic plant that has several medical benefits such as a remedyfor the colds, respiratory inflammations, anti-spasmodic, anti-parasitic, antiseptic andsedative. In the present study TM essential oil (TMO) was obtained from leaves of TM viahydro-distillation and then was analyzed by GC-MS (Gas chromatography-Massspectrometry). The anti-oxidant capacity of TMO was examined by measuring reactiveoxygen (ROS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging. The anti-inflammatory activity ofTMO was determined through measuring NADH oxidase (NOX) mRNA expression inlipopolysacharide-stimulated murine macrophages using real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). GC-MS analysis indicated that the main components in the TMO weredihydrotagetone (33.86%), E-ocimene (19.92%), tagetone (16.15%), cis-β-ocimene (7.94%),Z-ocimene (5.27%), limonene (3.1%) and epoxyocimene (2.03%). The TMO had the abilityto scavenge all ROS radicals with inhibitory concentration (IC50) 12-15 μg/mL, whichindicated a potent radical scavenging activity. In addition, TMO significantly reduced NOXexpression in the cells at concentrations of 50 μg/mL, indicating a capacity of this product topotentially modulate/diminish immune responses. TMO has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatoryconditions.

Tagetes minuta, Essential oil, Macrophages, NOX