Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Aromatic Plants of the Sahel Region

This research investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of essential oils extracted from aromatic plants endemic to the semi-arid Sahel belt of north-eastern and north-western Nigeria. The plants selected for study include species of Ocimum, Lippia, Cymbopogon, and Eucalyptus that are widely used in traditional medicine and food preservation in the region. Essential oils are obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, and their chemical profiles are determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Major and minor components are identified by comparison with NIST spectral databases and by co-injection with authentic reference standards. Quantitative antioxidant assays — including DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS, and FRAP — are employed to correlate chemical composition with biological activity. The outcomes of this project will provide a chemical basis for the use of these plants as natural preservatives and therapeutic agents, and lay groundwork for potential commercialisation of plant-derived essential oil products within Nigeria's agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.