Essential oils from Eugenia spp.: In vitro antiproliferative potential with inhibitory action of metalloproteinases

Abstract

Essential oils still remain as a source for the identification of promising biologically active molecules. The aim of this study was to determinate the chemical composition of essential oils from Eugenia cuspidifolia (EO1) and Eugenia tapacumensis (EO2), and their antiproliferative effects in human cancer cell lines. The essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Evaluation of cytotoxic effect was performed against different tumor line cells was performed through alamar blue assay, using different human cell line: malignant melanoma (SK-MEL-19), colorectal carcinoma (HCT116), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), gastric adenocarcinoma (ACP02). Subsequently, clonogenic survival, wound-healing assay, activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs), and comet assays were executed using only the more sensibility cell line to oils. A total of 24 different compounds were identified in the essential oils; the major components were caryophyllene oxide (57.46%, 55.95%) and α-copaene (3.75%, 13.67%) were the majority of detected compounds in both oils from EO1 and EO2, respectively. Essential oils reduce viability of tumor cells (MCF-7, HCT116, SK-Mel 19), according with values of IC50 between 12.37–26.17 μg mL−1. Essential oils showed high cytotoxic potential against HCT116 cell line, therefore this cell strain was selected for evaluation of anticancer potential. The EO1 and EO2 showed a reduction in cell colony formation, cell migration, and MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) activities. In the comet assay, a high damage index was identified for EO2. In conclusion, the essential oils from these two Eugenia species analyzed have shown promising antitumoral results, with potential effect in HCT116 cell line.