OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the chemical composition and pharmacological potential of hydro distillate from Salix caprea inflorescence.

METHODS

Fresh flowers were subjected to conventional hydrodistillation. Antioxidant activity was assessed as free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) towards 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radicals. Anti inflammatory activity was examined by human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization method. Qualitative and Quantitative analysis of hexane extract of aromatic water was performed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS).

RESULTS

A total of 19 constituents representing (99.2%) of the aromatic water were identified; Hexahydrofarnesylacetone (38.3%), 2-butyl-octanol (24.0%), 2.hexyl-1-octanol (8.6%) were the main components. Results suggest that the hydro distillate possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammtory properties.

CONCLUSIONS

The aromatic water's composition and its pharmacological evaluations has been reported in our results for this unique and endemic species.