Free radical scavenging and antibacterial activities, and GC/MS analysis of essential oils from different parts of Falcaria vulgaris from two regions.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from flower, leaf and stem of Falcaria vulgaris Bernh., from two different localities in Iran, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS (sample A from Ardabil and sample B from Khalkhal area), alpha-Pinene was the major constituent of the flower, leaf and stem oils from sample A: (43.8%, 33.0% and 50.9%, respectively). Of the 10 components detected in the oil of F. vulgaris flower, high amounts of beta-caryophyllene (25.2%) and 1,8-cineole (12.8%) were recorded, alpha-Terpinyl acetate (23.2%) and limonene (14.4%) were major constituents of the leaf oil. In the oils of sample B: alpha-pinene (16.1% in the flower oil, 31.5% in the leaf oil and 34.5% in the stem oil) was again the major compound. Limonene (14.2%) and germacrene D (32.1%) were also main constituents of the leaf oil. alpha-Terpinyl acetate (21.9% in the leaf oil) and limonene (29.8% in stem oil) were the other major compounds obtained from this sample. Antibacterial activity was determined by measurement of growth inhibitory zones, and the antioxidant activity was tested using the DPPH radical scavenging method. The essential oils from different parts and localities of Falcaria vulgaris showed free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity.