Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Tunisian Laurus nobilis.

We study the composition of Tunisian laurel leaves essential oil (EO), the fatty acid composition of laurel seed fixed oil and the total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins of laurel leaves methanolic extract. We also evaluated its free radical scavenging activity by the DPPH test. The predominant chemical class in Tunisian Laurus nobilis leaves EO was represented by oxygenated monoterpenes accounting for 64.29% of whole EO with the major compound was 1,8-cineole (46.8%). The predominant fatty acid was oleic acid (C18: 1) with an amount of 42.0%. Total polyphenols were present in the methanolic extract of Laurusnobilis leaves at an amount of 174.1 mg GAE.g-1dry matter. Total flavonoids and total tannins accounted respectively for 149.2mg CE.g-1 dry matter and 24.9mg CEg-1 dry matter. Furthermore, concerning free radical scavenging activity, Laurus nobilis leaves methanolic extract presented a significant IC (3mg/mL).