Chemical Composition and Effect of Photo-Oxygenation on Biological Activities of Egyptian Commercial Anise and Fennel Essential Oils

Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris M.) essential oils are commercially available in the local Egyptian market. They were analyzed by GC and GC-MS spectrometry. The main components of anise oil were; trans-anethole (61.7 %), α-longipinene (10.1 %), cis-anethole (7.3 %), cyclosativene (5.2 %), isoledene (3.4 %) and safrol (2.4 %), while those of fennel essential oil were; d-limonene (34.6 %), trans-anethole (13.6 %), d-carvone (11 %), cis- sabinene hydrate (5.9 %), fenchone (3.9 %), β-longipinene (2.5 %), 1,8-cineol (2.0 %) and apiol (1.2 %). Their biological activities, including free radical scavenging, antimicrobial, deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein cleaving were tested, in addition to their hypoglycaemic effect. trans-Anethole as an individual major component in both essential oils was also tested. The effect of the photo-oxygenation reaction on both oils was studied. The results revealed variation of the tested biological activities of the regular and the photo-oxygenated oils. This could be explained in terms of the formed oxygenated products.