Abstract

Y. C. Wong^*, P. P. Lee and W.A. Wan Nurdiyana

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/300329

Star anise (Illiciumverum) essential oil was extracted using solvent extraction method. The extraction yields and antioxidant activities of essential oils at different extraction times (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 days) and temperatures (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 °C) were studied. The results showed that the highest yield of essential oil was 8.56 % by extracting star anise at 60 ⁰C for 7 days.The antioxidant activities of the extracted star anise essential oils were investigated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay on Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) plates and DPPH radical scavenging method. The results showed that at least two different bands with antioxidant activity with different polarity were appeared on the TLC plates after spraying with DPPH and incubated for 30 minutes. The highest antioxidant activity of star anise essential oil was obtained when the sample was extracted at 60 ⁰C for 1 day (EC₅₀ value = 0.089±0.05 mg/ml). HPLC analysis showed that the concentration (%) of trans-Anethole present in the essential oils extracted at varied extraction times and temperatures was ranged from 77.29 % to 91.87 %.Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was also done on a sample of star anise essential oil and a distinctive peak at retention  time 13.84 minutes with peak area 100% was found to be Estragole compound. Anethole compound was also found to be present at two peaks.

solvent extraction; star anise essential oil; extraction yield; antioxidant activity; trans-Anethole

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