CITOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM GABIROBEIRA LEAVES ON DIFFERENT TUMOR CELL LINES

Abstract

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the possible cytotoxic activity of the essential oil of the Eugenia uniflora leaves on normal and tumoral human cells by colorimetric cell viability assay, based on the use of tetrazolium salt (XTT). Methods : To achieve the cytotoxicity it was used normal human lung fibroblast cell line GMO7492A and the evaluation of antiproliferative activity was performed on three tumor cell lines, as follows: human glioblastoma (MO59J), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). For the determination of cytotoxic concentration to the normal line, 12 concentrations were evaluated being from 2.44 to 5000 µg/mL. In the evaluation of antiproliferative activity were tested 8 different concentrations of the extract (3.91 to 500 µg/mL). Results : The results in the normal line GM07492A showed that concentrations higher or equal to 39.1 µg/mL are significantly different of the negative control. In the evaluation of antiproliferative activity on tumor cell lines MO59J, HeLa and MCF-7 was observed that the concentration of 125 µg/mL showed a cytotoxic effect on these lines being significantly different from the negative control. The results from the evaluation of the antiproliferative activity in different tumor cell lines of E. uniflora oil was not selective for the tested cell types. Conclusion : E. uniflora oil did not show cytotoxic activity in concentrations lower than 39.1 µg/mL, however, the values found to IC 50 for tumor cells were superior, concluding that the oil has no selectivity for tumor cells tested.