Chemical Characteristics and Anticancer Activity of Essential Oil from Arnica Montana L. Rhizomes and Roots

Abstract

Arnica montana L. is a medicinal plant with diverse biological activities commonly used in pharmacy and cosmetics. The attributes of A. montana are mainly related to the concentration and chemical composition of essential oils (EOs). Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of EOs derived from A. montana rhizomes and roots taking into account the age of the plants and to investigate the effect of the analyzed EOs on induction of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy in human glioblastoma multiforme T98G and anaplastic astrocytoma MOGGCCM cell lines. Rhizomes and roots of mountain arnica were harvested at the end of the third and fourth vegetation periods. The chemical composition of essential oils was determined with the GC–MS technique. Among the 37 components of the essential oil of A. montana, 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (46.47%–60.31%), 2,6-diisopropylanisole (14.48%–23.10%), thymol methyl ether (5.31%–17.79%), p-methoxyheptanophenone (5.07%–9.65%), and α-isocomene (0.68%–2.87%), were detected in the rhizomes and roots of the three-year-old plants and in the rhizomes and roots of the four-year-old plants. The plant part (rhizome, root) and plant age can be determinants of the essential oil composition and, consequently, their biological activity. The induction of apoptosis (but not autophagy nor necrosis) at a level of 28.5%–32.3% is a promising result, for which 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene, 2,6-diisopropylanisole, thymol methyl ether, and p-methoxyheptanophenone are probably mainly responsible. The present study is the first report on the anticancer activities of essential oils from A. montana rhizomes and roots.

Activity of Liquid and Volatile Fractions of Essential Oils against Biofilm Formed by Selected Reference Strains on Polystyrene and Hydroxyapatite Surfaces

“…Therefore, they are of interest for scientists worldwide [ 43 ]. It has been shown that numerous EOs demonstrate antimicrobial, antiviral or anticancer activity [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Chouhan at al.…”

Yield and Chemical Composition of Raw Material from Meadow Arnica (Arnica chamissonis Less.) Depending on Soil Conditions and Nitrogen Fertilization

“…The inflorescences of the meadow arnica (Arnicae anthodium) have a similar chemical composition and pharmacological activity to that in the mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.) [9,[25][26][27][28]. There are literature reports on the antioxidant, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects [9,14,[29][30][31][32], and the potential use of arnica raw material in Alzheimer's disease and cancer treatment [33][34][35].…”

Composition of Essential Oils from Roots and Aerial Parts of Carpesium cernuum and Their Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities

“…Finally, essential oils were tested in melanoma cell lines to assess anticancer activity. Unlike the essential oil from C. abrotanoides [ 14 ] and essential oils from A. montana [ 38 , 39 ], that demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against the cancer cells, C. cernuum REO and APEO did not show selective cytotoxicity towards the cancer cell lines used in this study. Cytotoxic activity of thymol was slightly higher than those of the tested C. cernuum oils.…”

“…Recently, thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether from A. triplinervis has been proven to be active against Zika virus in non-cytotoxic doses [ 36 ]. Rhizomes and roots as well as achenes of a popular European medicinal plant Arnica montana L. (tribe Madieae of the Compositae) produced essential oils with a high content of thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether (20–60%), accompanied by smaller amounts of thymol methyl ether (4–27%), that induced apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Roots of Cyathocline purpurea (D. Don) O. Ktze (Compositae), a rare Indian medicinal plant, contained essential oil with 2,5-dimethoxy- p -cymene as a major constituent (57%).…”