title: The essential oil of Populus balsamifera buds: its chemical composition and cytotoxic activity.
abstract: The chemical composition of Populus balsamifera essential oils obtained from spring buds, fall buds, and young leaves were determined by GC and GC-MS analyses. The major constituent, (+)-alpha-bisabolol, a rare sesquiterpene, was isolated from spring oil using reverse-phase preparative HPLC. The cytotoxic activity of balsam poplar oils and isolated (+)-alpha-bisabolol was assessed in vitro against human lung carcinoma (A549) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell lines. Essential oils were cytotoxic with IC50 ranging from 35 to 50 microg/mL. (+)-alpha-Bisabolol exhibited pronounced activity (IC50 14 microg/mL) against both cancer cell lines. It also exhibited interesting cytotoxic activity (IC50 23 microg/mL) against human glioma (U251), higher than the one observed for (-)-alpha-bisabolol (IC50 34 microg/mL), which is known for its apoptosis-inducing effect against glioma cells.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piochon-Gauthier
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legault
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sylvestre
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pichette
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032107:Populus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009822:Oils, Volatile