International Research Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract

Background: Most of the plant natural flora contributes significantly to medicinal benefits. To address the shortcoming usage of synthetic drugs, natural products are in demand which offer a broad spectrum of activities with negligible side effects. Pinus succinefera is a fossilized resin from coniferous woods that belongs to the genus Pinus of the Pinaceae family and is widely known as Amber. The present study explores the physiochemical properties and broad spectrum of biological activities of the essential oil.

Method: The essential oil obtained using the hydro-distillation process, and chemical composition was examined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric analysis as well as the functional groups present in the essential oil were determined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. Thermal characterisation was performed using the Thermo Gravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The antimicrobial potential of the essential oil was evaluated against different microorganisms meanwhile antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum was examined. The free radical scavenging capability of the essential oil was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) reagent. High-performance thin-layer chromatography was used to examine the qualitative components of the essential oil.

Results: The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric analysis profile indicated 5 major compounds in the essential oil, which consisted of 99% of the total oil. The thermal analysis of the essential oil established thermal stability. The essential oil showed moderate antioxidant and a moderate to significant potential was observed against microbial species including Plasmodium falciparum. In High-performance thin-layer chromatography five bands of essential oil components with Retention factor ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 at 254nm were represented.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the essential oil obtained from Pinus succinefera has the potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture medicinal substances, as well as it can show a significant capability in other domains.