Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of Eucalyptus torquata Luehm. and Eucalyptus salmonophloia F. Muell. Trunk Bark Essential Oils against Human SW620 and MDA‐MB‐231 Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the screening of natural active ingredients from Eucalyptus essential oils because of their evident importance in practical utility and their undeniable therapeutic properties. Based on this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the chemical profile of the essential oils of the trunk bark of Eucalyptus torquata Luehm. (ETEO), and E. salmonophloia F. Muell. (ESEO), growing in Tunisia. The in vitro cytotoxic properties of the extracted EOs were also evaluated against two human cancer cell lines: breast carcinoma cell lines MDA‐MB‐231 and colorectal cancer cell lines SW620. The analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) led to the identification of 32 compounds from the ETEO, with the dominant constituents being the monoterpenes trans‐myrtanol (73.4 %) and myrtenol (4.7 %), and the apocarotene (E)‐β‐ionone (3.9 %). In the case of ESEO, 29 compounds were identified with trans‐myrtanol (25.0 %), decanoic acid (22.1 %), nonanoic acid (9.8 %), γ‐elemene (6.5 %), γ‐maaliene (5.5 %), and α‐terpineol (5.3 %) as the main components. The cytotoxicity of EOs against the two chosen cell lines was tested using Crystal Violet Staining (CVS) assay and 5‐fluorouracil as a reference drug. The two EOs exhibited a significant dose‐dependent inhibition against the viability of the used cell lines. Their inhibitory effects were particularly observed towards SW620 colon carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 26.71±1.22 and 22.21±0.85 μg/mL, respectively, indicating that both oils were more cytotoxic for SW620 cells compared to MDA‐MB‐231 one.

GC-MS Profiling and Biomedical Applications of Essential Oil of Euphorbia larica Boiss.: A New Report

“…The similarities observed in the mentioned literature with current data might be due to the essential oils extracted from the same genus and also the same approach used to examine the cytotoxic effects. However, our observed findings are not equated with the results presented by Estanislao et al [ 56 ] and Lahmadi et al [ 57 ] for Eucalyptus and Decatropis bicolor , respectively. The variation among the effects might be due to the differences in the plant genus and habitat, and the bioactive content in the plants also varies due to the quality and water availability, as reflected in the literature stated by Rawat et al [ 58 ].…”

Repurposing Lovastatin Cytotoxicity against the Tongue Carcinoma HSC3 Cell Line Using a Eucalyptus Oil-Based Nanoemulgel Carrier

“…These findings explain the cytotoxic ability of statins [ 45 ]. Additionally, Eu oil exerts a potentially cytotoxic effect owing to its terpene content, which also promotes apoptosis [ 24 ]. Such facts explain the high cytotoxic activity of LV-Eu-SNEDDS emulgel formulations against HSC3 cells; it results from the synergistic effect between LV and the Eu oil.…”

“…Such a valuable antitumor effect could be related to its content of terpenes, such as α-pinene and γ-terpinene. The suggested mechanism of the anticancer effect of Eu oil could be its ability to promote cell death through an apoptotic process due to its terpene content [ 24 ].…”