Exploring the chemical composition and anti-cancer potential of <i>Matricaria recutita</i> L. essential oil

This study aims to investigate the chemical composition and assess the anti-cancer potential of <i>Matricaria recutita</i> L. essential oil against various cancer cell lines. The chemical profile of the essential oil was determined through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identifying major constituents such as (Z)-<i>β</i>-farnesene, <i>α</i>-bisabolol oxides, and chamazulene. The anti-cancer activity was evaluated using <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity assays (MTT assay) on human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231), and mouse fibroblast (L929) cell lines. The experiments were performed in triplicate, and data were analyzed using ANOVA to determine statistical significance. The main constituents of the essential oil included (Z)-<i>β</i>-farnesene (33.90 %), <i>α</i>-bisabolol oxide B (11.60 %), and others. The oil demonstrated considerable cytotoxic effects across all tested cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values indicating strong anti-proliferative activity, particularly at higher concentrations and longer exposure times. The results showed dose-dependent reductions in cell viability, with significant decreases in cell proliferation observed especially at concentrations over 7.81 μg/mL. These findings support its potential as a natural, complementary agent in cancer therapy, warranting further <i>in vivo</i> studies for clinical application.