title: Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Essential Oils from Leaves and Flowers of Callistemon citrinus from Western Himalayas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant-based traditional system of medicine continues to play an important role in healthcare. In order to find new potent source of bioactive molecules, we studied the cytotoxic activity of the essential oils from the flowers and leaves of Callistemon citrinus. This is the first report on anticancer potential of essential oils of C. citrinus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytotoxicity of essential oil was evaluated using sulfo-rhodamine B (SRB) assay against human lung carcinoma (A549), rat glioma (C-6), human colon cancer (Colo-205) and human cervical cancer (SiHa) cells. Apoptosis induction was evaluated by caspase-3/7 activity which was further confirmed by western blotting. Percentage cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin V based dead cell assay followed by DNA content as cell cycle analysis against A549 and C-6 cells. While 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to check the toxicity against normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the immunomodulatory activity on mouse splenocytes was evaluated using SRB assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GC and GC-MS analysis of these essential oils revealed high content of α-pinene (32.3%), limonene (13.1%) and α-terpineol (14.6%) in leaf sample, whereas the flower oil was dominated by 1,8-cineole (36.6%) followed by α-pinene (29.7%). The leaf oil contained higher amount of monoterpene hydrocarbons (52.1%) and sesquiterpenoids (14%) as compared to flower oil (44.6% and 1.2%, respectively). However, the flower oil was predominant in oxygenated monoterpenes (43.5%). Although both leaf and flower oils showed highest cytotoxicity on A549 cells (61.4%±5.0 and 66.7%±2.2, respectively), only 100 μg/mL flower oil was significantly active against C-6 cells (69.1%±3.1). Interestingly, no toxicity was recorded on normal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher concentration of 1,8-cineole and/or synergistic effect of the overall composition were probably responsible for the efficacy of flower and leaf oils against the tested cells. These oils may form potential source of natural anti-cancer compounds and play important role in human health.
authors: Regulatory Research Center, Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Dharmesh
authors: D
authors: Kumar
authors: Regulatory Research Center, Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Mahesh
authors: M
authors: Sukapaka
authors: Natural Plant Products Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: G D Kiran
authors: GD
authors: Babu
authors: Regulatory Research Center, Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors: Yogendra
authors: Y
authors: Padwad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D027822:Myrtaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7