Chem Biodivers. 2017 Mar 23. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.201700096. [Epub ahead of print]
- 1
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Plant Diversity and Ecosystems Management Unit, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
- 2
- EA 2219 Géoarchitecture, UFR Sciences & Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 6 Avenue Victor Le Gorgeu, 29200, Brest, France.
- 3
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Laboratory for Translational Research in Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
- 4
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
- 5
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy.
- 6
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Sant'Agostino 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
Abstract
Eryngium campestre and E. amethystinum are thorny herbs belonging to the Apiaceae family and spontaneously growing in stony pastures and dry meadows, preferentially on calcareous substrates. In the Mediterranean countries, these plants have been used as a food or traditional remedies to treat various ailments. In the present work, we have analysed the chemical composition of the essential oils distilled from the aerial parts by GC-FID and GC-MS, and evaluated their cytotoxic effects on a panel of human cancer cells, namely A375 (human malignant melanoma), MDA-MB 231 cells (human breast adenocarcinoma) and HCT116 cells (human colon carcinoma), by the MTT assay. Furthermore, the Eryngium essential oils were evaluated for antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. The two essential oils were rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, with germacrene D as the major compound, accompanied by allo-aromadendrene, β-elemene, spathulenol and ledol. They resulted highly cytotoxic on the tumor cells, with IC50 values (1.65-5.32 and 1.57-2.99 μg/ml for E. amethystinum and E. campestre, respectively) comparable or close to those of the anticancer drug cisplatin. The E. amethystinum essential oil exhibited a moderate antioxidant activity whereas that of E. campestre a weak AChE inhibition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Eryngium amethystinum ; Eryngium campestre ; cytotoxicity; essential oil; sesquiterpenes
