Chemical composition and in vitro cytotoxic effects of the essential oil from Nectandra leucantha leaves. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grecco, Simone dos S.; Martins, Euder Glendes A.; Girola, Natália; de Figueiredo, Carlos R.; Matsuo, Alisson L.; Soares, Marisi G.; Bertoldo, Bruno de C.; Sartorelli, Patricia; Lago, João Henrique G.
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 53:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.912238
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context: Nectandra</italic> (Lauraceae) species have been used in folk medicine as an antidiarrheal, analgesic, antifungal, etc., and have many pharmacological proprieties.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: Investigation of the chemical composition and cytotoxicity of essential oil from <italic>Nectandra leucantha</italic> Nees & Mart. leaves. This is the first study involving <italic>N. leucantha</italic> reported in the literature.</p> <p> <italic>Material and methods</italic>: The essential oil of <italic>N. leucantha</italic> leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation. Its chemical composition was determined using a combination of GC/FID, GC/MS, and determination of Kovats index (KI). <italic>In vitro</italic> cytotoxic activity was evaluated against six cancer cell lines – murine melanoma (B16F10-Nex2), human glioblastome (U-87), human cervical carcinoma (HeLa), human colon carcinoma (HCT), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), and human cervical tumor (Siha) as well as against one non-tumorigenic cell line – human foreskin fibroblast (HFF).</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Thirty-three compounds were identified primarily sesquiterpenes (81.41%), the main compounds being bicyclogermacrene (28.44%), germacrene A (7.34%), spathulenol (5.82%), and globulol (5.25%). Furthermore, monoterpenes were also found in the analyzed oil (12.84%), predominantly α- and β-pinenes (6.59 and 4.57%, respectively). The crude essential oil displayed significant cytotoxic activity against B16F10-Nex2 (IC<sub>50</sub> 33 ± 1 μg/mL) and U87 (IC<sub>50</sub> 75.95 ± 0.03 μg/mL) and HeLa (IC<sub>50</sub> 60 ± 12 μg/mL) cell lines. The main identified compound, bicyclogermacrene, displayed IC<sub>50</sub> ranging from 3.1 ± 0.2 to 21 ± 6 μg/mL.</p> <p> <italic>Discussion and conclusion</italic>: The results indicate that the crude oils from leaves of <italic>N. leucantha</italic> displayed cytotoxic activity being bicyclogermacrene, the main compound identified in the crude oil responsible, at least in part, for this potential.</p> </abstract>