DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v24i4.209

Keywords: Piper ornatum, essential oil, acetylcholinesterase, caryophyllene oxide

Abstract

This study reports volatile oil components and anticholinesterase inhibitory activity of Piper ornatum N.E.Br (Piperaceae) essential oil collected from Malaysia. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and fully analysed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty-seven chemical components were identified representing 79.6% of the total oil. The essential oil contains caryophyllene oxide (31.5%), spathulenol (5.9%), aromadendrene (4.9%), and β-caryophyllene epoxide (4.5%). Anticholinesterase activity was evaluated using Ellman method. The essential oil showed significant inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (I%: 70.2%) and butyrylcholinesterase (I%: 75.8%) assays.