ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Plants of the Myrcia genus have been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases, including cancer. Myrcia splendens species has a diverse chemical constitution, but the biological activities of its essential oil have not been well investigated. In this study to out the chemistry characterization of essential oil (EO) from the leaves of the species M. splendens from Brazil and evaluate cytotoxic effect in A549 lung cancer cells. METHODS: M. splendens EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). EO was isolated and evaluated for cellular viability in tumor cell lines by MTT assay. The evaluation of the formation of clones and the migratory capacity of the A549 cells treated with EO was done by the clonogenic assay and the wound healing assay. Morphological changes were observed in A549 cells by fluorescence using Phalloidin/FITC and DAPI. RESULTS: 22 compounds were identified in the chemical analysis of EO, corresponding to 88% of the sample. Major compounds were the sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons bicyclogermacrene (15.4%), germacrene D (8.9%) and E-caryophyllene (10.1%). The biological analysis of the EO showed high cytotoxic activity with an IC50 below 20 µg/ml in the THP-1, A549 and B16-F10 tumor cells. The treatment with EO reduced colony formation and inhibited the migratory capacity of A549 cells. Furthermore, apoptotic morphological changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm of A549 cells was observed after of treatment with EO. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the M. splendens EO has cytotoxic compounds for the A549 lung cancer cells. Treatment with the EO decreased the colony formation and reduced the ability of lung cancer cells to migrate. Future studies may be used to isolate compounds from the EO for the study of lung cancer.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Lung Neoplasms , Myrtaceae , Oils, Volatile , Humans , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , A549 Cells , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Drimys brasiliensis Miers is native to Brazil, where it is mainly found in montane forests and flooded areas in the South and Southeast regions of the country. The objectives of the present study were to compare the leaf anatomy and the chemical constitution of the essential oils from D. brasiliensis present in two altitude levels (1900 and 2100 m), in a Montane Cloud Forest, in Itamonte, MG, Brazil. RESULTS: A higher number of sclereids was observed in the mesophyll of the leaves at 1900 m altitude. At 2100 m, the formation of papillae was observed on the abaxial surface of the leaves, as well as an increase in the stomatal density and index, a reduction in leaf tissue thickness, an increase in the abundance of intercellular spaces in the mesophyll and an increase in stomatal conductance and in carbon accumulation in the leaves. Fifty-nine constituents have been identified in the oils, with the predominance of sesquiterpenes. Two trends could be inferred for the species in relation to its secondary metabolism and the altitude. The biosyntheses of sesquiterpene alcohols at 1900 m, and phenylpropanoids and epi-cyclocolorenone at 2100 m, were favored. CONCLUSIONS: D. brasiliensis presented a high phenotypic plasticity at the altitude levels studied. In relation to its leaf anatomy, the species showed adaptive characteristics, which can maximize the absorption of CO2 at 2100 m altitude, where a reduction in the partial pressure of this atmospheric gas occurs. Its essential oils presented promising compounds for the future evaluation of biological potentialities.
ABSTRACT
Várias espécies de plantas possuem capacidade de desenvolver folhas com anatomias distintas quando cultivadas em diferentes condições de luz, as quais influenciam diretamente o crescimento e o desenvolvimento das mesmas, causando alterações morfofisiológicas. Diante da falta de informação a respeito de como o fator ambiental interfere sobre a fisiologia do desenvolvimento e do metabolismo das plantas de Thymus vulgaris, este trabalho objetivou estudar os efeitos das intensidades luminosas de 100, 50 e 30%, na produção e no teor de timol de seu óleo essencial, em sua anatomia foliar e na produtividade de biomassa fresca. Maiores rendimentos de óleo essencial foram encontrados para os níveis de irradiância de 100 e 50%. Para as análises anatômicas observa-se que quanto maior o índice de irradiância maiores espessura do limbo foliar, do mesofilo e das faces adaxial e abaxial são alcançadas, resultando maior produção de biomassa fresca.
Several plant species are capable of developing leaves with distinct anatomies when grown under different light conditions, which directly influence their growth and development and cause morphophysiological changes. Given the lack of information about how the environmental factors interfere with the physiology of development and metabolism of Thymus vulgaris plants, this study investigated the effects of light intensities of 100, 50 and 30% on the production and thymol content of the essential oil, on their leaf anatomy and on the productivity of fresh biomass. Higher yields of oil were found for levels of irradiance of 100 and 50%. Greater leaf, mesophyll and adaxial and abaxial thicknesses were achieved with a higher irradiance index, resulting in a higher production of fresh biomass.
