Agricultural Research Journal

Guava (Psidium guajava) leaf essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation using Clevenger type apparatus. The yield of oil was found to be 0.6ml/100g of leaf powder. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry studies of the oil revealed the presence of Caryophyllene (24.97%) as major constituent. Proximate nutritional analysis of the powder showed presence of (%) carbohydrate (60.85), crude protein (22.98), crude fibre (14.4), moisture (8.67), ash (3.80) and crude fat (1.45). Phytochemical analysis of oil depicted the presence of terpenoids, glycosides, phenols, alkaloids, steroids and saponins and total phenolic content of the oil was found to be 415.46 ± 0.24 mg GAE/1ml of oil. Antioxidant activity of oil was tested by free radical scavenging and reducing power assay with IC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of 445.0 ± 0.01 and 4815.26 ± 0.01 μg/ml, respectively. Therefore, guava leaf essential oil is good source of various phytochemicals having medicinal properties and dietary nutrients but has moderate antioxidant potential.