title: The Anticancer, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of the Sesquiterpene β-Caryophyllene from the Essential Oil of Aquilaria crassna.
abstract: The present study reports a bioassay-guided isolation of β-caryophyllene from the essential oil of Aquilaria crassna. The structure of β-caryophyllene was confirmed using FT-IR, NMR and MS. The antimicrobial effect of β-caryophyllene was examined using human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Its anti-oxidant properties were evaluated by DPPH and FRAP scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of β-caryophyllene was tested against seven human cancer cell lines. The corresponding selectivity index was determined by testing its cytotoxicity on normal cells. The effects of β-caryophyllene were studied on a series of in vitro antitumor-promoting assays using colon cancer cells. Results showed that β-caryophyllene demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against S. aureus (MIC 3 ± 1.0 µM) and more pronounced anti-fungal activity than kanamycin. β-Caryophyllene also displayed strong antioxidant effects. Additionally, β-caryophyllene exhibited selective anti-proliferative effects against colorectal cancer cells (IC50 19 µM). The results also showed that β-caryophyllene induces apoptosis via nuclear condensation and fragmentation pathways including disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Further, β-caryophyllene demonstrated potent inhibition against clonogenicity, migration, invasion and spheroid formation in colon cancer cells. These results prompt us to state that β-caryophyllene is the active principle responsible for the selective anticancer and antimicrobial activities of A. crassnia. β-Caryophyllene has great potential to be further developed as a promising chemotherapeutic agent against colorectal malignancies.
authors.affiliation: EMAN Research and Testing Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. hawk_dijla@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Saad S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dahham
authors.affiliation: EMAN Research and Testing Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. yasser.tabana@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Tabana
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. adnan_chem38@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: EMAN Biodiscoveries Sdn. Bhd. EUREKA Complex, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Campus, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. khadeer.nc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed B K
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ahamed
authors.affiliation: Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. mohamed_oday@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ezzat
authors.affiliation: Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia. aminmalikshah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aman S A
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.affiliation: EMAN Research and Testing Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. aminmalikshah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amin M S A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Majid
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029645:Thymelaeaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C024714:caryophyllene
keywords: anti-cancer; anti-clonogenic; apoptosis; colorectal cancer; nuclear fragmentation; β-caryophyllene