Phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil of Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. grown in North India Terai region of Uttarakhand

The plant Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. belonging to family Asteraceae was subjected to hydro distillation for essential oil extraction and was chemically analyzed by GC/MS for its phytochemical composition. Thirty-five compounds were identified comprising 88.1% of total essential oil composition. Limonene (12.2%) along with sesquisabinene isomer (7.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.9%) were the prominent compounds of the essential oil. In-vitro antioxidant activity of essential oil was investigated by DPPH free radical scavenging activity and metal chelating activity having IC50 value of 326.77 ± 5.34 μL and 14.853 ± 0.106 μL respectively whereas reducing power activity having RP50 value of 14.011 ± 0.0446 μL. The essential oil exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity with IB50 value of 5.629 ± 0.0311 μL compared to standard Diclofenac sodium salt having IB50 value of 23.693 ± 0.306 μg/mL. The essential oil displayed exceedingly marked anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activities as compared to standard marketed drugs.