Investigation of the phytochemicals produced by the eucalyptus (Eucalyptus viminalis) throughout several growth seasons

Medicinal plants contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which are the primary antioxidants produced by plants. Antioxidants are chemical compounds that protect the body from damage by counteracting free radicals. The Myrtaceae family comprises eucalyptus, a medicinal plant. At the Lorestan Research Center, this study investigated how harvesting times affected the phytochemical composition of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus viminalis) essential oil. Three replications of a randomized complete block design were utilized to conduct the experiment. The concentrations of flavonoids and total phenol were ascertained by employing Folin-Ciocalteu's regent and aluminum chloride, respectively. By means of GC/MS analysis, the hydrodistilled essential oils of eucalyptus leaves were evaluated. In general, the results indicated that the highest concentrations of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were detected during the spring season. During the spring, summer, and fall, leaf essential oil contained 43, 14, and 17 components, respectively. 1,8-Cineol, alpha-pinene, and trans-pinocarveol exhibited the highest concentrations across all three seasons. Collectively, the results indicate that the duration of the harvest significantly influences the concentration of bioactive compounds in plants.