Phytochemical profiling and evaluation of <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant and <i>in vivo</i> anti-inflammatory activity of <i>Neolitsea pallens</i> essential oil

This study aims to determine the chemical composition, <i>in vitro</i> antioxidant, and <i>in vivo</i> anti-inflammatory properties of <i>Neolitsea pallens</i> essential oil (NPEO). The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oil was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), respectively. A total of 42 compounds were identified, accounting for 91.15% of the oil. The major components included β-caryophyllene (32.72%), germacrene D (9.11%), caryophyllene oxide (8.11%), β-sabinene (6.60%), and β-elemene (4.46%). NPEO demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS⁺ free radical scavenging assays, with IC₅₀ values of 49.05 μg/mL and 5.8 μg/ mL, respectively. In the <i>in vivo</i> anti-inflammatory tests, NPEO exhibited a maximum inhibition of 60.57% in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model and 50% in the xylene-induced ear edema model, both at a dose of 20 mg/kg. The presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes in NPEO may contribute to its enhanced antioxidant properties thereby reducing the inflammation in animal models.