Antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activity of essential oil of dry leaves from Guatteria blepharophylla (Mart.) R. E. Fries (Annonaceae)

Abstract

Guatteria blepharophylla popularly known as “envieira” belongs to an Annonaceae family [1]. Many species of Guatteria gender are used in traditional medicine for different purposes but more detailed biological studies are necessary [2]. Some studies have already shown antiproliferative activity of Annonaceae species essentials oils [3]. The purpose of this study was analyzed the antioxidant potential and their correlation with cytotoxic activities of the volatile constituents from the dry leaves of G. blepharophylla. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from dry leaves of Guatteria blepharophylla (Annonaceae) and was analyzed by GC/MS. Forty two components were identified, representing around 97.55% of total oil. The major components were caryophyllene oxide (48.07%) and sphatulenol (8.36%). The oil showed DPPH radical-scavenging activity by TLC autographic assay (clear yellow spot) and by ORAC-FL assay with antioxidant capacity of 750µmol Trolox equivalents/g of oil [4]. The cytotoxicity of the oil was investigated in-vitro against U251 (glioma), UACC-62 (melanoma), MCF-7 (breast), NC1-ADR/RES (ovarian-resistant), 786.0 (kidney), NCI-H460 (lung), PC-3 (prostate), OVCAR-3 (ovarian) and HT-29 (colon). The oil exhibited antiproliferative activity against all cell lines (TGI < 100 µg/mL). The highest activity of the oil was observed against UACC-62 (TGI 40.58 µg/mL), HT-29 (TGI 41.13 µg/mL) and NCI-ADR/RES (TGI 47.02 µg/mL) cell lines. The chemical profile of essential oil from dry leaves showed the presence of caryophyllene oxide and sphatulenol as major compounds. The significant antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the essential oil of dry leaves of G. blepharophylla confirm that the Annonaceae species are natural source of biologically active compounds.