Composition and evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of the essential oil from Annona sylvatica A. St.-Hil

• Published in: Journal of medicinal food Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 20
• Main Authors: Formagio, Anelise S N, Vieira, Maria do Carmo, Dos Santos, Luiz A C, Cardoso, Claúdia A L, Foglio, Mary Anny, de Carvalho, João Ernesto, Andrade-Silva, Magaiver, Kassuya, Cândida A L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Animals; Annona - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Edema - drug therapy; Edema - immunology; Humans; Male; Mice; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - physiopathology; Oils, Volatile - administration & dosage; Oils, Volatile - chemistry; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Sesquiterpenes - administration & dosage; Sesquiterpenes - chemistry
• DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2011.0303

The essential oil from the leaves of Annona sylvatica (EOAS) was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main compounds identified in the EOAS were sesquiterpenes, such as hinesol, z-caryophyllene, β-maaliene, γ-gurjunene, silphiperfol-5-en-3-ol, ledol, cubecol-1-epi, and muurola-3,5-diene. Oral administration of the EOAS (20 and 200 mg/kg) and subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg, reference drug) significantly inhibited carrageenan- and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced mouse paw edema. The anticancer activity the EOAS showed growth inhibitory activity on all cell lines when administered in a high concentration. The EOAS inhibited the growth of human cancer cell lines with GI(50) values in the range of 36.04-45.37 μg/mL on all of the cell lines tested. This work describes for the first time the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of the essential oil of A. sylvatica and its composition. Considering that drugs currently available for the treatment of inflammatory and cancer conditions show undesirable side-effects, the present results may have clinical relevance and open new possibilities for the development of novel anti-inflammatory and anticancer drugs.