Abstract
Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) is a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat various clinical conditions at home. In this study, chemical composition of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes essential oil, and in vitro antioxidant, DNA damage protective and cytotoxic activities as well as antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens were investigated. Results showed that α-cyperone (38.46%), cyperene (12.84%) and α-selinene (11.66%) were the major components of the essential oil. The essential oil had an excellent antioxidant activity, the protective effect against DNA damage, and cytotoxic effects on the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell, as well as antibacterial activity against several foodborne pathogens. These biological activities were dose-dependent, increasing with higher dosage in a certain concentration range. The antibacterial effects of essential oil were greater against Gram-positive bacteria as compared to Gram-negative bacteria, and the antibacterial effects were significantly influenced by incubation time and concentration. These results may provide biological evidence for the practical application of the C. rotundus rhizomes essential oil in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Highlights
Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae), is a smooth, erect and perennial weed and is widely distributed in tropical and warmer temperate regions worldwide
The profile obtained in the present study was very similar to the previous results reported by Liu et al who found that α-cyperone (29.38%), cyperene (13.97%), caryophyllene oxide (6.71%) and β-selinene (6.47%) were the major compounds in the essential oil from Zhejiang province in China[20]
According to previous research results that the volatile compounds of C. rotundus has been divided into four types four chemotypes (H, K, M, O-types)[15], the essential oil in the present study should belong to the M-type because it mainly contained α-cyperone, cyperene, caryophyllene oxide, and β-selinene
Summary
Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae), is a smooth, erect and perennial weed and is widely distributed in tropical and warmer temperate regions worldwide. Chemical composition of the essential oil derived from C. rotundus rhizome had been widely studied[14,15,16,17]. Some studies reported the antioxidant[6,18], antibacterial activity[18,19], insecticidal activity[20] of the essential oil of C. rotundus rhizome, as well as antiradical and antimutagenic properties[21,22]. The purpose of this study was to determine chemical composition of the essential oil of C. rotundus rhizome growing wild in China, and to further evaluate in vitro the antioxidant, oxidative DNA damage protective and cytotoxic effects as well as antibacterial activity of C. rotundus rhizome essential oil against several common foodborne pathogens for exploring its potential nutritional value and pharmacological activity in food and medicine
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