Abstract
Helichrysum gymnocephalum essential oil (EO) was prepared by hydrodistillation of its leaves and characterized by GC-MS and quantified by GC-FID. Twenty three compounds were identified. 1,8-Cineole (47.4%), bicyclosesquiphellandrene (5.6%), γ-curcumene (5.6%), α-amorphene (5.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (5%) were the main components. Our results confirmed the important chemical variability of H. gymnocephalum. The essential oil was tested in vitro for cytotoxic (on human breast cancer cells MCF-7), antimalarial (Plasmodium falciparum: FcB1-Columbia strain, chloroquine-resistant) and antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH assays) activities. H. gymnocephalum EO was found to be active against MCF-7 cells, with an IC50 of 16 ± 2 mg/L. The essential oil was active against P. falciparum (IC50 = 25 ± 1 mg/L). However, the essential oil exhibited a poor antioxidant activity in the DPPH (IC50 value > 1,000 mg/L) and ABTS (IC50 value = 1,487.67 ± 47.70 mg/L) assays. We have reviewed the existing results on the anticancer activity of essential oils on MCF-7 cell line and on their antiplasmodial activity against the P. falciparum. The aim was to establish correlations between the identified compounds and their biological activities (antiplasmodial and anticancer). β-Selinene (R² = 0.76), α-terpinolene (R² = 0.88) and aromadendrene (R² = 0.90) presented a higher relationship with the anti-cancer activity. However, only calamenene (R² = 0.70) showed a significant correlation for the antiplasmodial activity.
Highlights
The flora of Madagascar is rich, with a specific diversity and more importantly, it contains endemic species
Two previous works have quantified the yield of this essential oil
They studied the shoot part of the plant mainly bark and leaves; extraction yields for essential oil were 0.5% and 0.41% according to Mollenbeck et al [26] and Cavalli et al [27], respectively
Summary
The flora of Madagascar is rich, with a specific diversity and more importantly, it contains endemic species. In Madagascar, more than 400 species described in other parts of the World, especially in Southern Africa, Western Europe and Australia, and 115 species, all endemic of the large. Island, are currently known [1]. Gold) which belongs to Asteraceae family is one of the endemic species. Helichrysum gymnocephalum (Immortal with naked head) is a shrub from 1 to 4 meters in height whose ultimate branches are covered by a white and very fine tomentum. The leaves are lengthily attenuated towards the base in short petioles, covered on the two faces by a tomentum and having three quite visible principal veins in lower part. Flowering lasts from February till May, seeds are papillate [2]
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