Author : Wafaa Moustafa El Kady
CoAuthors : Iriny M. Ayoub
Source : Industrial Crops & Products
Date of Publication : 03/2018
Abstract :
Araucaria is a small genus of evergreen coniferous trees, widely used for ornamental and timber purposes.
Araucaria species are rich in essential oils. In this study, the essential oils obtained from the foliage of Araucaria
heterophylla (Salisb.) and Araucaria bidwillii Hook were analyzed using GC and GC/MS. Cytotoxicity of both
essential oils was assessed on three human cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Twenty nine compounds were
annotated in A. heterophylla essential oil, whereas forty three were identified in A. bidwillii accounting for
95.16% and 81.06% of the total volatile oil composition, respectively. α-Pinene (70.85%), D-limonene (4.26%)
and germacrene D (2.99%) represented the major compounds in A. heterophylla. Beyerene (35.65%), transnerolidol
(13.66%) and ɣ-elemene (6.09%) dominated in A. bidwillii. Both oils showed potent cytotoxicity
against all tested cancer cell lines (Hep-G2, MCF-7 and Caco-2) exhibiting IC50 values of 0.70, 3.20 and 1.10 μg/
ml for A. heterophylla; and 1.67, 1.10 and 1.32 μg/ml for A. bidwillii, respectively. Caspase-3 activation indicated
that the cytotoxicity of A. bidwillii essential oil is mediated via caspase-dependent apoptosis. These findings
suggest that the essential oils of A. heterophylla and A. bidwilli offer promising anticancer drug candidates pertaining
to the synergistic effects of their individual components.
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