Metabolite profile and antioxidant activities of Trikatu, black pepper, Javanese long pepper, and red ginger essential oils

Trikatu (TR) is an Ayurvedic formulation that consists of three pungent medicinal ingredients: long pepper fruit, black pepper, and ginger rhizome. However, the strong pungency of the TR constituents poses challenges for oral administration. Therefore, the formulation of TR in the form of essential oils for aromatherapy could be considered to overcome this challenge. This study aimed to determine the contribution of black pepper (BP), javanese long pepper (JLP), and red ginger (RG) to the GC-MS metabolite profile of trikatu (TR) essential oil and to investigate their in vitro antioxidant activities. The essential oils from BP, JLP, and RG were extracted using the stahl hydro-distillation method. Phytochemical profiling was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed with the help of R packages of factoMiner and factoExtra to examine the metabolite distributions. Antioxidant activities of TR, BP, JLP, and RG essential oils was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The GC-MS analysis of BP, JLP, RG, and TR essential oils revealed the presence of 11 common compound, including linalool, caryophyllene, and beta-bisabolene. PCA showed different patterns of compound abundance across the samples. For example, linalool was more abundant in TR samples, while gamma-bisabolene was more in JLP samples. The antioxidant activities of TR, BP, JLP, and RG essential oils were significantly different, with RG showing the lowest IC 50 value 2.73±0.09 mg/mL, indicating higher antioxidant potential compared to BP and JLP. This study highlights the unique metabolite profiles in RG, BP, JLP, and TR essential oils, which contribute significantly to their bioactive properties, particularly antioxidant activity. RG essential oil plays a significant role in enhancing the antioxidant potential of TR. These insights support broader applications in aromatherapy, wellness, and healthcare, where TR essential oil can be used for antioxidant support, stress relief, and as a natural supplement. Future research may further optimize these essential oils for targeted therapeutic and preventive applications.