Essential Oil from Bark of Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae) Reduces HepG2 Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Tumor Development in a Xenograft Model

Abstract

Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae) is an aromatic plant of the Amazon rainforest, which has a tremendous commercial value in the perfumery industry; it is popularly used as flavoring sachets and aromatic baths. In Brazilian folk medicine, A. parviflora is used to treat victims of snakebites. Herein, we analyzed the chemical composition of A. parviflora bark essential oil (EO) and its effect on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC‐MS and GC‐FID. The main constituents of EO were linalool (16.3±3.15), α‐humulene (14.5±2.41 %), δ‐cadinene (10.2±1.09 %), α‐copaene (9.51±1.12 %) and germacrene B (7.58±2.15 %). Initially, EO's cytotoxic effect was evaluated against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF‐7, HCT116, HL‐60 and B16‐F10) and one non‐cancerous one (MRC‐5), using the Alamar blue method after 72 h of treatment. The calculated IC50 values were 9.05, 22.04, >50, 15.36, 17.57, and 30.46 μg/mL, respectively. The best selectivity was for HepG2 cells with a selective index of 3.4. DNA Fragmentation and cell cycle distribution were quantified in HepG2 cells by flow cytometry after a treatment period of 24 and 48 h. The effect of EO on tumor development in vivo was evaluated in a xenograft model using C.B‐17 SCID mice engrafted with HepG2 cells. In vivo tumor growth inhibition of HepG2 xenograft at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg were 12.1 and 62.4 %, respectively.

Antitumor Effect of Guatteria olivacea R. E. Fr. (Annonaceae) Leaf Essential Oil in Liver Cancer

“…G. olivacea leaf EO showed IC 50 values less than 30 μg/mL for most cell lines tested and was considered promising according to our cytotoxic screening program for new compounds/extracts/oils [ 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. As a result, it was chosen for further research using the liver cancer HepG2 cells as a cellular model since liver cancer is one of the lethal cancers.…”

“…HepG2 cells (10 7 cells/500 µL/mouse) were implanted subcutaneously into the left front armpit, as previously described [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. After one day, the animals were treated intraperitoneally (200 μL/mouse) once a day for 21 days.…”

Duguetia pycnastera Sandwith (Annonaceae) Leaf Essential Oil Inhibits HepG2 Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

“…After an acclimatization period, HepG2 cells (10 7 cells/500 μL/SQ/animal) were inoculated into the left front armpit of the mice on day 0, as previously described [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. On day 1, the animals were treated by the intraperitoneal route (200 μL/animal) once a day for 21 days.…”

Chemical Diversity and Therapeutic Effects of Essential Oils of Aniba Species from the Amazon: A Review

“…Based on their bibliographic survey, the authors considered essential oils with IC 50 values < 30 μg/mL the most promising for the development of cytotoxic drugs in cancer therapy. With respect to the development of tumors, the animals treated with the oil showed a reduction in tumor weights 0.40 g and 0.17 g at the 40 and 80 mg/kg doses of oil [ 119 ].…”