Composition, Anticancer, and Antimicrobial Activities in vitro of the Heartwood Essential Oil of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii from Taiwan

Abstract

This study investigated the chemical composition, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities in vitro of the essential oil isolated from the heartwood of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii from Taiwan. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirty-seven compounds were identified, representing 100% of the oil. The main components identified were cedrol (58.3%), -cedrene (11.8%), -terpineol (4.2%) and-cedrene (3.5%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against human lung, liver and oral cancer cells. The active source compound was cedrol. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested by the disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution methods against ten microbial species. The oil exhibited strong growth suppression against Gram-positive bacteria and yeast with inhibition zones of 42~50 mm to MIC values of 31.25~62.5 μg/mL, respectively. For the antimicrobial activities of the oil, the active compound was determined to be cedrol.

Insecticidal activities of Cunninghamia konishii Hayata against Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

“…Our findings are in agreement with those of Ikeda and Fujita, who also found that the C. konishii wood essential oil comprised main pinene, selinene, limonene, α ‐terpinol, borneol and cedrol. In addition, Su et al also found that the main constituent of heartwood essential oil was cedrol (58.3%). Such result is in agreement with that of Su et al , who also found that the main constituent of leaf essential oil was α ‐pinene (36.4%).…”

Inhibitory Effects of Cedrol, β-Cedrene, and Thujopsene on Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Activities in Human Liver Microsomes

“…Cedar oil and its major components, β-cedrene, cedrol, and thujopsene, exert various biological activities, such as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, tonic, astringent, diuretic, sedative, insecticidal, and antifungal effects (Carroll et al, 2011;Dayawansa et al, 2003;Eller et al, 2014;Hori et al, 2012;Kagawa et al, 2003;Kim et al, 2013;Manter et al, 2007;Oh et al, 2011;Su et al, 2012;Yada et al, 2007). Therefore, these compounds are used globally as traditional medicines, as well as in soaps, shampoos, fragrances, and cosmetics (Bhatia et al, 2008).…”

Growth-inhibiting effects and chemical composition of essential oils extracted from Platycladus orientalis leaves and stems toward human intestinal bacteria

“…We demonstrated the growth-inhibiting effects of cedrene derived from the essential oil of P. orientalis leaves against C. perfringens and E. coli. Cedrene is abundant in many plants such as Cephalaria lycica, C. scoparia, Coleus forskohlii, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Juniperus virginiana, and Haplophyllum acutifolium (9,20,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), and it has antimicrobial and antileukemic effects (9,28,29). Taken together, P. orientalis leaf oil, in which cedrene is the major component, could be used as a selective inhibitor of harmful intestinal bacteria.…”