Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of Bulgarian Rosa alba L. essential oil – in vitro model study

Abstract

Rosa alba L., also known as the white oil-bearing rose, has been cultivated in relatively small areas of Europepredominantly in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria. An increasing number of studies in vitro and in vivo, including clinical studies, have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of rose oils in recent years. However, little is known about the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of the phytocomplex oil extract derived from Rosa alba L. The aim of the present work was to investigate the cytotoxicity and clastogenic effects of Rosa alba L. essential oil and its main constituentgeraniol, as well as citral A, associated with allergies and contact dermatitis. We used classical cytogenetic methods and comet assay. 1-Methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine was used as a standard mutagen. The data showed that R. alba L. essential oil (in concentrations up to 1000 mg/mL) did not exhibit a statistically significant cytotoxic effect. The essential oil did not significantly increase the level of mitotic disturbances (micronuclei and aneuploidy effects) and had no significant effect on the induction of chromatid aberrations, compared to the untreated control sample. Only geraniol and citral A (in the concentrations used) increased significantly the percentage of migrated DNA in the comet tail, compared to the whole oil extract. This study gives a reason to believe that R. alba L. oil has potential as a supplementary component in some therapeutic strategies. It would be harmless to normal cells and tissues, but with potential for additive or synergistic cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Rose Flowers—A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?

“…With regards to R. alba , the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of these extracts has been identified in the literature. The essential oil of Bulgarian R. alba L. when tested in concentrations of 250, 500, and 1000 μg/mL exhibited a weak cytotoxic and genotoxic effect in plant cells of H. vulgare [ 77 , 78 ]. No significant increase is observed for the level of mitotic disturbances (micronuclei and aneuploidy effects), as well as no significant effect on the induction of chromatid aberrations, compared to the untreated control.…”

Traditional, phytochemical, and biological aspects of Rosa alba L.: a systematic review

“…Marked malformations have been observed in newborns in cases where the pregnancy was not terminated [31]. The essential oil was found to be inactive up to 1000 mg/ml on root tip meristem cells isolated from Hordeum vulgare [32]. Generally, essential oils and their components are safe in low concentrations while several researchers have reported that the higher dose (500 mg/ml) of geranial (citral A) and geraniol are responsible for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in human cells [33,34].…”

Evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of methanolic extract of medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) leaves

“…As a rule, the biological properties of plant extracts cannot be attributed to activities of single constituents. The scavenging activity could be explained by the combined effects of different compounds [36]. Several studies have evaluated the relationship between the antioxidant activity of plant products and their total phenolic content.…”