Antitumor activity and toxicity of volatile oil from the leaves of Annona leptopetala

Abstract

Annona leptopetala (R.E.Fr.) H. Rainer, Annonaceae, is used in folk medicine like antitumor and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study was to determine chemical composition, toxicity and antitumor activity of A. leptopetala leaves volatile oil. Fresh leaves were hydrodistilled and then the volatile oil chemical composition was assessed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Toxicity was assessed using haemolysis, micronucleus and acute toxicity protocols. Antitumor effects were determined in vitro and in vivo, using sulforhodamine B assay and sarcoma 180 murine tumor model, respectively. Spathulenol was the major component identified (12.56%). The volatile oil showed in vitro antitumor activity mainly in leukemia cell line (K-562), with Total growth inhibit (TGI) (concentration producing TGI) of 0.64μg/ml. In other hand, the volatile oil <250μg/ml did not inhibit HaCat non-tumor cell line growth. The concentration that produced 50% haemolysis was 372.8μg/ml. The 50% lethal dose in mice was approximately 447.2mg/kg intraperitoneally. Sarcoma 180 tumor growth inhibition rates were 59.29% and 58.77% at 100 and 150mg/kg intraperitoneally, respectively. The volatile oil presented moderate gastrointestinal toxicity and no genotoxicity was observed at 350mg/kg. Thus, the volatile oil shows antitumor activity with moderate toxicity.