GC-MS profiling and biological activities of Conamomum vietnamense leaf extracts from Vietnam

Conamomum vietnamense is a native species in Vietnam with significant potential pharmacological properties. This study evaluated the total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents, antioxidant properties, and in vitro cytotoxicity of C. vietnamense leaves. The volatile components of the leaf fractionated extract were analyzed using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The TPC and TFC were evaluated with Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride in colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, while cytotoxicity was assessed using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) methods. The main compounds identified in the leaf fractionated extract included 1,8-cineole (37.16%), α-terpineol (7.77%), limonene (4.96%), α-eudesmol (4.66%), β-eudesmol (2.95%), and α-thujene (2.25%). TPC and TFC values were determined to be 119.66 ± 1.03 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g E and 205.94 ± 1.97 mg RE/g E, respectively. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 122.46 ± 2.82 μg/mL. It also exhibited strong cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, SK-LU-1, HeLa, MKN-7, and HL-60 cell lines with IC50 values of 35.90 ± 1.24, 68.89 ± 3.76, 45.49 ± 1.64, 59.18 ± 1.77, and 51.41 ± 1.70 μg/mL, respectively, which may be attributed to the presence of diverse secondary metabolites with cytotoxic properties. This study provides a foundation for further research on isolating bioactive compounds with pharmacological effects from C. vietnamense and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying its cytotoxic activity.