Abstract

ESSENTIAL OIL FROM THE BLACK CARROT LEAVES AND THEIR FREE RADICAL SCAVENING ACTIVITY

Zafar Iqbal*, Afifa Saeed, Muhammad Usman Sabri, Mehroz Ahmed Khan, Abeera Zafar, Amna Masood

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Abstract

Daucus carota L. (black carrot L.) leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation through Clevenger type apparatus for essential oil extraction. Extracted essential oil was separated from water and dried with anhydrous Na2SO4. Yeild of the essential oil was 0.02%. Total phenolic content of essential oil determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent taking Gallic acid as standard and measuring at 765 nm by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The total phenolic content in carrot leaves were found 8.3 mg GAE/g. The antioxidant activity of essential oil by the DPPH at concentrations 25μL, 50μL, 75 μL and 100 μL was 28%, 38%, 43% and 57%respectively. while 100μL concentration of ascorbic acid give 96%. Antioxidant activity of essential oil of daucus carota is moderate and it was found concentration dependent.

Keywords: Black Carrot leaves, hydro-distillation, Essential oil, Phenolic content, Antioxidant activity.