SOME PECULIARITIES OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF DAMASK ROSE GROWING IN HIGH ALTITUDE ARMENIAN LANDSCAPES

Abstract

As with any essential oil (EO), the content and composition of Rosa × damascena Mill L. (EO) can be changed significantly, depending on the cultivation methods and terroir. The purpose of this research is to determine the chemical composition and biological activities of EO distilled from Damask rose flowers cultivated in Armenia at high elevation. The EO was obtained by hydro-distillation method, the chemical composition was analyzed by gas-chromatography analysis. The EO main compounds were citronellol (38.04%), nonadecane (4.9 %), nerol (7.12%), geraniol (26.32%) and linalool (6.15%). The antioxidant activity of EO was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), TBARS and metal-chelating activity determination assays. Antimicrobial activity was determined by agar-diffusion method. According to our investigations the minimal inhibitory concentration values against tested gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were varied between the 2.5 and 20 mg·mL^–1. Obtained data revealed high (DPPH) scavenging, metal chelating, lipid peroxidation inhibiting activities of EO. Thus, the results revealed a good potential of R. damascena EO.