Chemical composition, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential of essential oils of some cultivated plants in Egypt

This study aimed to identify chemical the composition of essential oils (EOs) of Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula dentata, Artemisia abrotanum, and Laurus nobilis, and evaluate their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Methods: The chemical composition investigated by GC/MS, while antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH and ABTS+ assays. The cytotoxic effect evaluated by MTT technique against human cancer cells; breast (MDA-MB-231), lung (A549), colon (Caco2), liver (HepG2) and doxorubicin-resistant liver (HepG2/DOX). Flow cytometry was utilized to evaluate apoptosis and cell cycle arrest after treating Caco2 cells with EO of C. citratus. Results: The most prominent compound of EOs was citral in C. citratus, artemisia ketone in A. abrotanum and eucalyptol in L. dentata and L. nobilis. The EOs showed weak antioxidant activity; except the EO of L. nobilis which had moderate ABTS+ activity. Also, the EOs exhibited a very weak cytotoxic effect; except the EO of C. citratus showed a high cytotoxic effect against Caco2 and MDA-MB-231, and moderate cytotoxic effect against A549, HepG2 and HepG2/DOX. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the proportion of treated cells reduced in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases, and increased in the S phase. On the other hand, the EO of C. citratus reduces the number of viable and necrotic cells, and increases the number of early and late apoptotic cells. Conclusion: The results revealed that EO of L. nobilis had moderate ABTS+ activity and the EO of C. citratus showed high cytotoxic effect. Flow cytometry showed the EO of C. citrate significantly induces apoptosis and S phase arrest.