Abstract
The aerial parts of Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch. Bip., wildly grown in Egypt, yielded 0.8 and 1.5% (v/w) of essential oils prepared by hydrodistillation (HD), or by conventional volatile solvent extraction method (preparation of the “absolute”, SE), respectively. The volatile components of this essential oil were determined by GC–MS analyses. Twenty eight compounds were identified in the HD sample, among which caryophyllene oxide (23.50%), 1-terpinen-4-Ol (11.15%), viridiflorol and guaienol (9.84%) were the main components. Meanwhile, 21 compounds were detected in the SE sample; 1-terpinen-4-Ol (30.90%), p-cymen-3-Ol (21.22%) were the main components. The anticancer activity of the prepared oils was evaluated against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell line (HCT116). The oil prepared by hydrodistillation revealed an IC50 0.51 µg/ml for MCF-7 and 0.62 µg /ml for HCT116, while that prepared by volatile solvent extraction had a value of 0.80 µg/ml for MCF-7 and 0.91 µg /ml for HCT116. Key words: Achillea fragrantissima, cytotoxic and terpinen-4-ol.
Highlights
Essential oils exhibit a very interesting chemotherapeutic potential; several essential oil constituents have been described as cytotoxic agents comprising βcaryophyllene, β-elemene, δ-elemene, α-humulene, etc. (Wang et al, 2005; Sylvestre et al, 2006; Hou et al, 2006; Tao et al, 2006; Xiao et al, 2006).Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch
The method of preparation of the essential oil affect the yield of the oil as 0.8 and 1.5% (v/w) of essential oil was obtained from hydrodistillation (HD) and volatile solvent extraction (SE) samples, respectively, the color and specific gravity of the samples had been affected (0.8501, and 0.8641 of HD and SE samples, respectively)
The cytotoxic activity of Achillea essential oil may be ascribed to the synergistic effect of all the constituents
Summary
The genus Achillea (Asteraceae) is represented by about 115 species in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere, mainly in North Africa, Southeast Europe and Southwest Asia (Boulos 2002). Among this genus, A. fragrantissima (known by its Arabic name Qaysoom) and Achillea santolina (known locally by Beatheran) are represented in Egypt (Tackholm 1974). A. fragrantissima (known by its Arabic name Qaysoom) and Achillea santolina (known locally by Beatheran) are represented in Egypt (Tackholm 1974) They are strongly fragrant perennial herbs and have been used by Bedouins as stomachic and anthelmintic
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