The essential oil from Drimys winteri possess activity: Antioxidant, theoretical chemistry reactivity, antimicrobial, antiproliferative and chemical composition

Abstract

The Mapuche and their ancestors have used D. winteri in traditional medicine. In the present study, the essential oil extract of D. winteri leaves (DW_EO) were characterized chemically and biologically to evaluate its pharmacological activity. In vitro antioxidant activity was assayed, and antitumor activity was evaluated in non-tumor and tumor-cell culture lines. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model to evaluate toxicity, and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The chemical oil composition was characterized principally of five major terpenes: 4 sesquiterpenes γ-Eudesmol (39.7%), β-Caryophyllene (33.7%), Elemol (25.9%), α-Eudesmol (0.3%) and 1 diterpene Kaunene (0.4%). By quantum calculations, it was determined that all oils have the ability to capture and yield electrons, which is consistent with the moderate antioxidant activity of DW_EO detected in vitro. Furthermore, by molecular docking is estimated that these oils can bind to proteins involved in the production of oxygen radicals. Of these proteins, CYP2C9 could bind energetically, reaching binding energy between −6.8 and −9.2 kCal/mol for the 5 terpenes studied, highlighting among these β-Caryophyllen and γ-Eudesmol. DW_EO has effect against H. pylori (MIC 32 μg/ml), S. aureus (MIC 8 μg/ml), E. coli (MIC 32 μg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC 64 μg/ml), β-Caryophyllen and γ -Eudesmol (MIC 64 μg/ml) and could selectively inhibit the proliferation of epithelial tumor cell lines but showed low against C. elegans (0.39–1.56 μg mL−1). Therefore, DW_EO may be used as a source of bioactive compounds in novel pharmacological treatments for medical application, agronomics, sanitation, and food.

Biological activity of the essential oil of Drimys winteri

“…This is a new finding compared to what was described above by Barrero et al (2000), Monsálvez et al (2010), and Muñoz et al (2011) . On the other hand, Bruna et al (2022) analyzed the EO of D. winteri obtained from leaves in the locality of Curiñanco, Valdivia, during the flowering period and found γ-eudesmol (39.7%) as a majority compound (see Table 1 ). This differs from that reported by the researchers cited above; however, it coincides with that recorded by Muñoz et al (2011) regarding the presence of another component, β-caryophyllene, albeit with different percentages (see Table 1 ).…”

“…According to Bruna et al (2022) , the essential oil (DW_EO) extracted from the leaves demonstrated antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus , with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 μg/mL. The main compounds of DW_EO, β-caryophyllene, and γ-eudesmol, exhibited an MIC of 64 μg/mL.…”

“…Regarding the activity of DW_EO against Gram-negative bacteria, Bruna et al (2022) determined that DW_EO has activity against Helicobacter pylori with an MIC of 32 μg/mL and against E. coli with an MIC of 32 μg/mL. In another study, Hu et al (2020) synthesized linalool-HS-PVCL capsules that showed a strong antibacterial effect due to the controllable release of linalool from the capsules, leading to linalool-mediated killing of E. coli bacteria.…”

“…Among the few investigations found on the antifungal effect of DW_EO against fungi responsible for infections in humans, the study by Bruna et al (2022) stands out. They assessed the antifungal activity of the EOs from the leaves, along with the major compounds β-caryophyllene and γ-eudesmol, against clinical isolates of Candida albicans , and reported an MIC of 64 ug/mL for both the essential oil and β-caryophyllene and γ-eudesmol.…”

“…Essential oils obtained from the leaf and bark of D. winteri have reported pharmacological effects, demonstrating antifungal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties ( Tampe et al, 2020 ; Bruna et al, 2022 ). Active molecules isolated from D. winteri can be considered for testing in vivo models, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, for the treatment of melanoma ( Russo et al, 2019 ).…”