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. 2008 Dec;41(6):1002-1012.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2184.2008.00561.x.

Antiproliferative effects of essential oils and their major constituents in human renal adenocarcinoma and amelanotic melanoma cells

M R Loizzo  1 , R Tundis  1 , F Menichini  1 , A M Saab  1 , G A Statti  1 , F Menichini  1
Affiliations

Antiproliferative effects of essential oils and their major constituents in human renal adenocarcinoma and amelanotic melanoma cells

M R Loizzo et al. Cell Prolif. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cytotoxic activity of Platycladus orientalis, Prangos asperula and Cupressus sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis essential oils and to identify active components involved in inhibition of population growth of human cancer cell lines.

Materials and methods: Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Antiproliferative activity was tested on amelanotic melanoma C32 cells and on renal cell adenocarcinoma cells, using the sulphorhodamine B assay.

Results: Cupressus sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis leaf oil exerted the highest cytotoxic activity with an IC(50)value of 104.90 microg/mL against C32, followed by activity of P. orientalis and P. asperula on the renal adenocarcinoma cell line (IC(50) of 121.93 and 139.17 microg/mL, respectively). P. orientalis essential oil was also active against amelanotic melanoma with an IC(50) of 330.04 microg/mL. Three identified terpenes, linalool, beta-caryophyllene and alpha-cedrol, were found to be active on both cell lines tested.

Conclusions: Our findings provide novel insights into the field of cytotoxic properties of essential oils. This study provided evidence on how cytotoxic activity of the oils is not always related to their major constituents, except for lower activity found in both cell lines for alpha-cedrol. Interestingly, beta-caryophyllene and linalool exhibited comparable IC(50) values to the commercial drug vinblastine on the ACHN cell line. This opens a new field of investigation to discover mechanisms responsible for the observed activity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dose‐dependent cytotoxicity of oil (48 h exposure) to C32 and ACHN cells as determined by the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. P. orientalis (PO), P. asperula (PA), and C. sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis cones (CP1) and leaves (CP2). Cells were seeded and after 24 h treated with serial dilution of oils. After 48 h, cells were treated with trichloroacetic acid 40% and successively with SRB dye. Absorbance was read at 490 nm. Errors bars indicate the standard deviation (n = 3).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dose‐dependent cytotoxicity of oil (48 h exposure) to C32 (A) and ACHN (B) cells as determined by the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. Cells were seeded and after 24 h treated with terpenes at different concentration. After 48 h, cells were treated with trichloroacetic acid 40% and successively with SRB dye. Absorbance was read at 490 nm. Errors bars indicate the standard deviation (n = 3).
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