Essential oil composition and antioxidant optimization of Capparis spinosa L. fruit in Sistan region

Capparis spinosa L. has been used in traditional medicine of Sistan region to treatment of liver, spleen, anemia and weakness of body diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of essential oils and optimization of antioxidant activity of Capparis spinosa L. The fruits were harvested from Nik Mohammad, Hirmand region (Sistan and Balouchestan Province) in summer 2014. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The fruit extract was obtained through microwave method with three solvents (ethanol, methanol and water), extraction times, temperatures and powers of microwave. Then antioxidant capacity was studied by 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Essential oils analysis were showed that there were 33 compounds in fruit oil. Thymol (24%) and isothiocyanates (29%) were the most abundant of oil constituents. According to the results, the ethanol extract which obtained by microwave power 300 W, 15 min and temperature 85ºC was optimized treatment for height antioxidant activity. The conclusions were showed that the Capparis fruit extract can be used as the potential source of natural antioxidant to diseases treatment.