COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL, PHENOL, FLAVONOID CONTENTS AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF FOUR APIACEAE FRUITS

In Saudi Arabia, the fruits of Apiaceae plants are commonly used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The present study aims to determine essential oil, phenol and flavonoid contents as a mean of comparison between four selected fruits. In vitro antioxidant properties of the selected fruits, Carum carvi (Caraway), Anethum graveolens (Dill), Cuminum cyminum (Cumin) and Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) was also explored. The present study provides means for chemical differentiation between the four selected fruits and shows their beneficial impact on health expressed by the antioxidant activity. Keywords: Apiaceae fruits; essential oils; GC, total phenol; flavonoid; antioxidant