Abstract

In the present study, the chemical composition and biological activity (acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity) of essential oil from endemic species Pinus nigra Arnold ssp. dalmatica (Vis.) Franco was investigated. α-Pinene, β-pinene, germacrene D and ß-caryophyllene were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS as dominant components of the oil. P. nigra ssp. dalmatica essential oil showed relatively high inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can be in relation with good AChE inhibitory activity of pure main monoterpene components of the oil (S-a-pinene) and their mixtures (S‑a-pinene:S-ß-pinene and R-a-pinene:S-ß-pinene, in ratio 3:2). Essential oil from P. nigra ssp. dalmaticadid not show significant antioxidant activity tested by three methods: DPPH radical scavenging method, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Species (TBARS) assays.

Key words: Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activity, essential oil, Pinus nigrassp. dalmatica, endemic species.