Peppermint and Basil Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, in vitro Antioxidant Activity and in vivo Estimation of Skin Irritation

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to determine chemical composition and antioxidant activity of commercial peppermint (Aetheroleum menthae piperitae) and basil (Aetheroleum basilici) essential oils as well as their effects on skin biophysical parameters. The qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils was determined by GC-MS and GC-FID spectrometry, respectively; their antioxidant activity by using DPPH assay and the change of skin biophysical parameters after topical application of oils by non-invasive in vivo bioengineering. The most abundant component in peppermint oil was menthol (45.4 %) while basil oil contained linalool (39.9 %) in the highest percentage. According to the EC50 values, basil oil showed better antioxidant activity than peppermint essential oil (0.002 mg/mL vs. 58.41 mg/mL). In vivo measurements revealed the absence of skin irritation after applying the samples of essential oil under occlusion, which is important for their future topical application.