Abstract
Schinus molle L. is used to treat various diseases; however, the literature lacks information regarding its possible immunotoxic effects. The aim of the study was to investigate the immunotoxic effects of essential oil from leaves of Schinus molle L. in cultures of human lymphocytes and macrophages. The cultures were treated with essential oil (EO) of Schinus molle L. and subsequently subjected to genotoxic analysis (comet assay), mutagenic analysis (micronucleus frequency and chromosomal aberration), and cytotoxic (cell viability) and functional parameters (interleukins secretions). Our analyses have determined that the essential oil from leaves of Schinus molle L. presents several compounds with α-pinene being the major compound; in addition, the compound verbenene was firstly identified; genotoxic effects were detected only in macrophages and only at the two highest concentrations tested. An important finding is that Schinus molle L. oil causes an activation of the immune system. This action has its mechanism centered by the cascade nitric oxide-interleukin-10-tumor necrosis factor alpha.
Highlights
Natural products have been used by humanity since time immemorial [1], and the knowledge of medicinal plants is, in most cases, the only therapeutic resource in many communities and various ethnic groups [2]
Work began assessing the phytochemical composition thereof by GC-MS, which resulted in the detection of thirty compounds (Table 1); of these, the highest concentrations found were of α-Pinene, Sabinene, Bicyclogermacrene, and Limonene, with percentage of 23.49, 11.36, 10.13, and 9.02, respectively
Among the compounds identified, over 65% had already been described in the literature, as compounds present in the leaves of Schinus molle L. [3, 20, 24, 25]; the verbenene compound was previously identified only in the essential oil (EO) of Schinus molle L. fruit and not in its leaves [26], and other compounds, such as citronella, citronella acetate, eugenol, and hexadecane, have not been phytochemically identified for this species before, according to the literature
Summary
Natural products have been used by humanity since time immemorial [1], and the knowledge of medicinal plants is, in most cases, the only therapeutic resource in many communities and various ethnic groups [2]. These products can be found as much in the poorest regions of Brazil and in large cities in the country, where they are sold in street markets, popular markets, and are even grown in residential yards [2]. The human health implications of studies in which chemical exposure reduced resistance to infection drove an early focus on immunosuppression within the toxicology community [4]
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