Antioxidative and neuroprotective effects of volatile components in essential oils from Chrysanthemum indicum Linn, flowers

Chrysanthemum indicum Linn,, belonging to the family Compositae, is a perennial herb that is widespread in Korea. C. indicum Linn, flowers have been traditionally used as an oriental medicine for treatment of infectious diseases. The chemical compositions, antioxidant capacity, and neuroprotective effects of volatile components in essential oils from C. indicum Linn, flowers were investigated. GC-MS analysis of essential oils revealed the 15 major components of 1,8-cineole, o-cymene, camphor, pinocarvone, chrysanthenyl acetate, bornyl acetate, trans-caryophyllene, terpinen-4-ol, umbellulone, trans-pinocarveol, cis-verbenol, borneol, alpha-terpineol, caryophyllene oxide, and thymol. Thymol had the highest antioxidant capacity. Essential oils and thymol dose-dependently decreased intracellular oxidative stress, exhibited anticholinesterase activities, and increased the cell viability of neuronal PC-12 cells. Essential oils and thymol from C. indicum Linn, flowers can be sources of natural antioxidants and functional foods.