Analysis of Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Different Parts of <i>Alpinia uraiensis</i> Hayata

This study investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant and antifungal activities of essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of <i>Alpinia uraiensis</i> Hayata, an endemic species of Taiwan. EOs were obtained from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and rhizomes using hyd...

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Main Authors: Ying-Ju Chen, Fen-Hui Chen, Tse-Yen Liu, Yao-Moan Huang, Yi-Chiann Chen, Fu-Lan Hsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1515
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Summary:This study investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant and antifungal activities of essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of <i>Alpinia uraiensis</i> Hayata, an endemic species of Taiwan. EOs were obtained from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and rhizomes using hydrodistillation, and their compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes were predominant, with flower and leaf EOs rich in γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, and 1,8-cineole, while root EO was characterized by fenchyl acetate (72.2%). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay, where the flower EO exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity (99.5% at 100 mg/mL), followed by rhizome and stem EOs, while root EO showed moderate activity. Antifungal activity against <i>Phellinus noxius</i>, a major wood-decaying pathogen, was assessed using the agar dilution method. Root EO exhibited the strongest antifungal effect, achieving complete inhibition at 400 and 800 μg/mL, while other EOs showed weaker activity. These findings suggest that <i>A. uraiensis</i> EOs possess potential antioxidant and antifungal properties, particularly the root EO, which may serve as a natural antifungal agent. Further studies are needed to elucidate the key bioactive compounds and their mechanisms for potential pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
ISSN:1420-3049