Essential oil from the resin of Protium heptaphyllum: Chemical composition, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity, and antimutagenicity

Abstract

Background:Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) March is popularly used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of P. heptaphyllum essential oil, its cytotoxicity in a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), antimicrobial activity, and its antimutagenicity in vivo.Materials and Methods:The chemical composition of the essential oil collected in three 3 years was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Annexin V conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate, caspase-3, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) assays were performed to evaluate apoptosis and inflammatory events. The antimutagenic activity at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg was determined using a micronucleus test in murine bone marrow.Results:The essential oil showed a predominance of monoterpene compounds, being the terpinolene, p-cymene-8-ol, and p-cymene, present in the essential oil extracted in the 3 years. The essential oil showed a protection against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity, and the cytotoxicity index polychromatic erythrocytes/normochromatic erythrocytes ratio in animals treated with oil at all doses (1.34 ± 0.33; 1.15 ± 0.1; 1.11 ± 0.13) did not differ from the negative control animal (1.31 ± 0.33), but from the cyclophosphamide group (0.61 ± 0.12). Cytotoxicity, at a concentration of 40.0 μg/mL, and antimicrobial activity were not observed for the essential oil (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥0.5 mg/mL). The essential oil did not change the levels of caspase-3 in the TNF-α level.Conclusion:The essential oil showed antimutagenic activity due to its chemical composition.SUMMARY Terpinolene, p-cymene-8-ol, and p-cymene are the main constituents of the essential oil of P. heptaphyllum collected within 3-yearsThe essential oil of P. heptaphyllum did not show antimicrobial activity (MIC >0.5 mg/mL) against E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicansThe essential oil of P. heptaphyllum has activity against S. mutans (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL)The essential oil showed a protection against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity in the micronuclei assay. Abbreviations used: GC–MS: Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, MTT: 3-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Annexin V-FITC: Annexin V conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha, MIC: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration

The pro-apoptotic effect of a Terpene-rich Annona cherimola leaf extract on leukemic cell lines

“…Terpinolene is one of the most abundant monoterpenes, which is known for its sedative [8] , antifungal [49] , anticancer, antioxidant [6], apoptotic [50] activities, as well anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities in association with diclofenac [7]. Interestingly, terpinolene, which is a main constituent of the essential oil of Protium heptaphyllum , exhibited an anti-mutagenic activity, suggesting its potential use as a chemo-preventive agent for cancer [51]. α-Pinene, another bicyclic monoterpene, was also found to induce cell cycle arrest in mice Xenograft models, and promote apoptosis in human prostate cancer [52].…”

Chemical Composition and Mechanism of Vibriocidal Action of Essential Oil from Resin of Protium heptaphyllum

“…The antibacterial effect was confirmed by MIC and MBC values that characterize EOPH as a vibriocidal agent. Lima et al [3] reported that EOPH showed only activity against Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 0.5 mg·mL −1 ) and did not show antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Enterobacter faecalis . MIC value of the present study was higher than 0.5 mg·mL −1 , even so it is considered promising because it indicates the action of OEPH against a Gram-negative bacterial species (V. parahemolyticus) with a most complex cell wall chemical composition than gram-positive species and more resistant to the action of essential oils.…”

“…This species of phanerogama is widely distributed in Brazilian ecosystems, such as Cerrado and Amazon rainforest. With the chemical composition rich in terpenes, the essential oil obtained from P. heptaphyllum resin (EOPH) has been studied due to its potential antibacterial effect [3]; however, the effect against the Vibrio parahaemolyticus species is still incipient.…”

Physicochemical Characterization, Microbiological Quality and Safety, and Pharmacological Potential of Hancornia speciosa Gomes

“…However, flavonoids may also show dual concentration-dependent effects, either mutagenic or antimutagenic [ 68 ]. Thus, the antimutagenic activity of the extract and rutin could be related to the antioxidant activity because other studies have reported that antioxidant compounds are related to the antimutagenic activity [ 69 , 70 ].…”