Comparative volatilomic profile of different parts of Echinophora orientalis Hedge & Lamond and their biological activities

This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of essential oils (EOs) obtained from the stem, flowers, aerial parts, and root of Echinophora orientalis Hedge & Lamond, including the first report on the chemical composition of the flower oil and its biological effects. No previous studies have reported the chemical composition of the essential oils of E. orientalis flower and stem. EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant activities (DPPH•, ABTS•+), total phenolic content (TPC), and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitory activity were evaluated in vitro. Monoterpene hydrocarbons dominated the oils of the stem, flowers, and aerial parts (>85%), with β-myrcene (48.7-56.2%) as the major constituent, along with p-cymene and α-phellandrene. In contrast, the root oil showed a distinct profile, rich in myristicin (42.5%) and terpinolene (38.1%). The stem oil exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity and highest TPC, followed by the flower oil. Notably, the flower EO demonstrated the most potent 5-LOX inhibition (IC50: 26.5 μg/mL), indicating a significant anti-inflammatory effect, which is reported here for the first time. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of E. orientalis EOs, particularly from the flower and stem, and support their ethnobotanical use in inflammation-related conditions.