Composition and antioxidant activity of Inula crithmoides essential oil grown in central Italy (Marche region).

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Inula crithmoides L. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS and 22 components were identified, the major ones being p-cymene (30.1%), 1-methylethyl-trimethylbenzene (18.7%), scopoletin (15.3%) and alpha-pinene (13.1%). The antioxidant activity of the oil was evaluated by the DPPH test and 5-lipoxygenase assay. The essential oil exerted a good antioxidant activity in the protection of lipid peroxidation when compared with known antioxidants.