title: Chemical composition, antioxidant and  cytotoxicity activities of the essential oils  of Myristica fragrans and Morinda citrifolia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effect of the essential oils of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) and Morinda citrifolia (mengkudu) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight compounds in nutmeg oil and six compounds in mengkudu oil were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The free radical scavenging activity of nutmeg oil was superior of that mengkudu oil. The MTT assay of nutmeg oil on human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116) and human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines showed IC₅₀ values of 78.61 and 66.45 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The mengkudu oil exhibited IC₅₀ values of 91.46 and 78.15 µg mL⁻¹ for HCT-116 and MCF-7, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that nutmeg oil can be developed as potent anti-cancer and antioxidant drugs.
authors.forename: Suthagar Pillai
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Piaru
authors.forename: Roziahanim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.forename: Amin Malik Shah
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdul Majid
authors.forename: Sabariah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Che Nin
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Man
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D032066:Morinda / Q000737:chemistry*; D026323:Myristica / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile