Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle seed oil: chromatographic characterization by GC-FID and HS-SPME-GC-MS, physicochemical parameters, and pharmacological bioactivities

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2019-05, Vol.26 (14), p.14137-14147
• Main Authors: EL Ayeb-Zakhama, Asma, Chahdoura, Hassiba, Ziani, Borhane Eddine Cherif, Snoussi, Mejdi, Khemiss, Mehdi, Flamini, Guido, Harzallah-Skhiri, Fethia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Ailanthus - chemistry; Ailanthus altissima; Analgesics; Analgesics - analysis; Animals; Anti-inflammatory agents; Antimicrobial activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Aquatic Pollution; Aroma compounds; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Benzenesulfonates; Carbonyl compounds; Carbonyls; Carrageenan; Chemical properties; Chromatography, Gas; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Edema; Edema - chemically induced; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Headspace; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Oils & fats; Oilseeds; Organic chemistry; Parameter identification; Peroxide; Pharmacology; Phosphorus; Physicochemical properties; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Rats; Research Article; Seeds; Seeds - drug effects; Solid phase methods; Volatile compounds; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04659-4

This study aimed to identify the physicochemical and the chemical properties of Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle seed oil and to evaluate its in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities and in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The fatty acids’ composition was determined using GC-FID. The oil was screened for antioxidant activity by DPPH test. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were determined using the acetic acid writhing test in mice and the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay in rats, respectively. Volatile compounds were characterized by HS-SPME-GC-MS. A. altissima produces seeds which yielded 17.32% of oil. The seed oil was characterized by a saponification number of 192.6 mg KOH∙g of oil, a peroxide value of 11.4 meq O 2 ∙kg of oil, a K 232 of 4.04, a K 270 of 1.24, and a phosphorus content of 126.2 ppm. The main fatty acids identified were palmitic (3.06%), stearic (1.56%), oleic (38.35%), and linoleic acids ones (55.76%). The main aroma compounds sampled in the headspace were carbonyl derivatives. The oil presents an important antioxidant activity (IC 50  = 24.57 μg/mL) and a modest antimicrobial activity. The seed oil at 1 g/kg showed high analgesic (91.31%) and anti-inflammatory effects (85.17%). The presence of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and the noteworthy antioxidant capacity of the seed oil can hypothesize its use as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.