title: Chemical composition and in vitro biological activities of the essential oil of Vepris macrophylla (BAKER) I.VERD. endemic to Madagascar.
abstract: Vepris macrophylla is an evergreen tree occurring in sub-humid forest of Madagascar and traditionally used in the Island to treat several complaints as well as to prepare aromatic teas and alcoholic drinks. In the present work, the essential oil distilled from the leaves was analyzed for the first time by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds were citral (56.3%), i.e., mixture of neral (23.1%) and geranial (33.2%), citronellol (14.5%), and myrcene (8.3%). The essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans as determined by vapor-diffusion assay, supporting the traditional use of the plant for preparing steam bath for the treatment of infectious diseases. The essential oil was evaluated for cytotoxic activity on human tumor cell lines by MTT (=3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay, showing inhibitory effects comparable to those of cisplatin, notably on MDA-MB 231 (human breast adenocarcinoma) and HCT116 (human colon carcinoma) cell lines. Finally, the essential oil was also subjected to screening for its antioxidant activity and the free radical scavenging capacity.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, IT-62032 Camerino, Italy. filippo.maggi@unicam.it
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fortuné Randriana
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rasoanaivo
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quassinti
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bramucci
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lupidi
authors.forename: Dezemona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: Luca A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Sauro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vittori
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D027821:Rutaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile