Cytotoxic evaluation of essential oil from Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. leaves

Abstract

Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam is a plant popularly used as antimicrobial, for malaria and inflammatory treatment. The essential oil of Z. rhoifolium was extracted and its cytotoxic effects against HeLa (human cervical carcinoma), A-549 (human lung carcinoma), HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), Vero (monkey kidney) cell lines and mice macrophages were evaluated. Some of the terpenes of its essential oil (β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-pinene, myrcene and linalool) were also tested to verify their possible influence in the oil cytotoxic activity. The results obtained permitted to confirm that the essential oil is cytotoxic against tumoral cells (CD 50 = 82.3, 90.7 and 113.6 µg/ml for A-549, HeLa e HT-29 cell lines, respectively), while it did not show cytotoxicity against non-tumoral cells (Vero and mice macrophages). Thus, the essential oil from Z. rhoifolium leaves seems to present a possible therapeuthic role due to its selective cytotoxic activity against tumoral cell lines. KEYWORDSZanthoxylum, Essential oil, cytotoxicity, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene Avaliação citotóxica do óleo volátil extraído das folhas do

Genotoxic and oxidative damage potentials in human lymphocytes after exposure to terpinolene in vitro

“…Therefore, we have discussed the cytotoxic effects of other monoterpenes. Consistent with our finding, MTT assay indicated that the viabilities of human epithelial prostate, Vero monkey kidney and human fetal fibroblast cells were significantly decreased after monoterpenes (such as d-limonene, a-pinene, myrcene, linalool and stylosin) treatment (Silva et al 2007;Rabi and Bishayee 2009;Rassouli et al 2011). Fig.…”

GC Analyses of Salvia Seeds as Valuable Essential Oil Source

“…Viridiflorol and -humulene identified in several S. officinalis essential oils showed antiacetylcholinesterase activity used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease [28], antifungal property [29], and cytotoxic activity against some tumor cell lines [30]. Furthermore, the labdane type diterpene 13-epi-manool displays in vitro a cytotoxic activity against human leukemic cell lines [31].…”

Chemical composition, insecticidal, and antifungal activities of fruit essential oils of three colombian Zanthoxylum species

“…There are numerous reports on the chemical composition and the various biological activities of Zanthoxylum species essential oils Boehme et al, 2008;Yang, 2008). The chemical composition of essential oils of Z. rhoifolium flowers, fruits, and leaves (Gonzaga et al, 2003;Moura et al, 2006;Da Silva et al, 2007a;2007b;Boehme et al, 2008), and biological properties of fruit and leaf essential oils, such as antibacterial and cytotoxic resultshave been previously reported (Moura et al, 2006;Da Silva et al, 2007b;Boehme et al, 2008).…”

“…Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam is popular in South America for inflammatory, microbial, cancerous, and malaria processes (Da Silva et al, 2007a;2007b). Zanthoxylum fagara is used in Cuba for the treatment of diarrhea, chest diseases, intermittent fever, earaches, and tooth diseases (Dieguez-Hurtado et al, 2003).…”