Chemical Variation and Biological Properties of the Essential Oil and Main Volatiles of Pimenta dioica Harvested in the Northern Highlands of Puebla, Mexico

Abstract

The chemical variation of the annual essential oils from Pimenta dioca (PdEOs) grown in the Northern Highlands of Puebla, Mexico, and their biological activities were determined. Eugenol (>50%) and beta‐myrcene (>16%) were the main volatiles contained in the annual PdEOs (2022‐2024) extracted from fruit and leaves. PdEOs showed inhibitory properties on human pancreatic lipase (IC50, 33‐44 µg/mL) through mixed type inhibition with clear eugenol involvement (IC50, 47 µg/mL). The oral administration of PdEOs and eugenol combined with corn oil on ICR mice (p < 0.01), confirmed a strong anti‐hypertriglyceridemic activity at 3 and 4.5 h post‐treatment. PdEOs showed low toxicity in 3T3 fibroblasts and probiotics (IC50 >500 µg/mL), whereas high lethal dose in ICR mice (LD50 >8000 mg/kg BW). Eugenol, beta‐myrcene and PdEOs decreased Helicobacter pylori viability acting as mixed inhibitors on urease. Results of anti‐lipase and anti‐H.pylori urease assays were endorsed by docking calculations