CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTED FROM TURMERIC RHIZOMES (Cucurma longa L.)

Abstract

In this work, turmeric essential oil was extracted from fresh turmeric rhizomes grown in Tien Giang province via hydrodistillation. The efficiency of turmeric essential oil extraction was examined in terms of material/solvent ratio (w/v), extraction time (minutes), and Tween 20 surfactant concentration. Turmeric essential oil has high levels of α-turmerone (16.49%), 7-epi-Sesquithujene (9.0%), α-Santalene (8.17%), β-sesquiphellandrene (7.02%), Teresantalol (6.29), and ar-turmerone (5.85%), according to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant activity of turmeric essential oil was evaluated using the DPPH free radical elimination method, yielding an IC₅₀ value of 94.80 mg/mL. Furthermore, the disc diffusion method was used to assess the antifungal activity of essential oils against five fungus strains: Malassezia furfur, Canida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum. Turmeric essential oil expressed highly effective antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, and Canida albicans, with antifungal diameters of 20 mm, 14 mm, and 9 mm, respectively. The above results confirmed that turmeric oil can be potentially used in biopesticides and personal care products.