Essential oil from Goniothalamus elegans Ast leaves in Vietnam: chemical composition, nitric oxide inhibition, and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities

Essential oils are renowned for their distinctive aromas and broad spectrum of bioactivities, particularly in managing inflammatory conditions and oxidative stress-related disorders. The genus Goniothalamus is well-known for its chemical diversity, yet its anti-inflammatory and anti-gout potential remains underexplored. In this study, the essential oil of Goniothalamus elegans Ast was analysed for the first time, revealing a complex profile of 48 compounds, accounting for 86.74% of its total composition. The primary constituents included guaiol (13.57%), bulnesol (8.78%), palmitic acid (5.89%), phytol (5.86%), and linalool (4.41%). The essential oil exhibited significant bioactivities, notably xanthine oxidase inhibition IC50 = 61.53 µg/mL and nitric oxide (NO) production suppression IC50 = 17.92 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of G. elegans essential oil as a promising natural source for developing anti-inflammatory agents or adjunctive treatments for gout.