Volatile components of Dillenia reticulata King (Dilleniaceae) essential oil and their cytotoxicity

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This work aimed to investigate, for the first time, the chemical composition and cytotoxicity of Dillenia reticulata King’s essential oil. The essential oil was obtained through hydrodistillation, and its volatile components were analyzed through gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Twelve components, which constitutes more than 99.49% of oil content, were successfully identified. The most prominent components were bicyclogermacrene (44.18%), germacrene D (14.49%), β-gurjunene (12.59%), and elemol (12.25%). The cytotoxicity of essential oil was evaluated using an MTT assay. The essential oil exhibited cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines which are HepG2, MCF7 and A549 with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 61.5-68.5 μg/mL. The present study highlights the potential of using essential oil as an alternative for the development of chemopreventive or cosmetic agents for the pharmaceutical industry.

KEY WORDS: Dillenia reticulata, Dilleniaceae, Essential oil, Cytotoxicity, Bicyclogermacrene

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(1), 245-249.                                                                

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i1.19