Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of free volatile aglycones from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) compared to its essential oil

The paper examines the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of free volatile aglycones from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) as compared to its essential oil. Comparison of the chemical composition of volatile aglycones with the chemical composition of essential oil showed there was no similarity between the free compounds found in the essential oil and the corresponding volatile aglycones. Only eugenol was found to be identical. To evaluate the said antioxidant activities, two different methods were applied: 2,2'-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The results obtained in vitro with both methods showed that volatile aglycones from laurel possess lower reducing power and free radical scavenging ability compared to essential oil as well as the well-known synthetic antioxidant butilated hydroxytoluene (BHT).