Radical-scavenging activities of citrus essential oils and their components: detection using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

Thirty-four kinds of citrus essential oils and their components were investigated for radical-scavenging activities by the HPLC method using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). To examine the oils' relative radical-scavenging activities compared with that of a standard antioxidant, Trolox was employed. All of the essential oils were found to have scavenging effects on DPPH in the range of 17. 7-64.0%. The radical-scavenging activities of 31 kinds of citrus essential oils were comparable with or stronger than that of Trolox (p < 0.05). The oils of Ichang lemon (64.0%, 172.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), Tahiti lime (63.2%, 170.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), and Eureka lemon (61.8%, 166.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL) were stronger radical scavengers than other citrus oils. Citrus volatile components such as geraniol (87.7%, 235.9 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), terpinolene (87.4%, 235.2 mg of Trolox equiv/mL), and gamma-terpinene (84.7%, 227.9 mg of Trolox equiv/mL) showed marked scavenging activities on DPPH (p < 0.05).