Antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesterase and apoptotic effects of essential oil of <i>Isodon wightii</i> (Bentham) H. Hara

<i>Isodon wightii</i> (Bentham) H. Hara is well known for aromatic essential oil. This is the first study aimed to evaluate antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesterase and apoptotic potential of <i>I. wightii</i> oil. DPPH scavenging, metal ion chelation and antiacetylcholinesterase activities were carried out for the extracted essential oil from the leaves of <i>I. wightii</i>. Cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells was studied by MTT assay and its apoptotic potential was determined by Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide and Hoechst33258 stains. A significant free radical scavenging and metal ion chelation were determined for oil. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition was recorded with IC₅₀ value of 7.864 µg/mL. The cytotoxic effect of oil on HeLa cells was calculated with IC₅₀ value of 13.264 µg/mL. High level of apoptosed cells were observed at 100 µg/mL oil treated cells. The results of the study emphasise the medicinal importance of <i>I. wightii</i> essential oil which could be a prominent plant based cancer therapeutic agent.