Essential Oil from Melaleuca leucadendra: Antimicrobial, Antikinetoplastid, Antiproliferative and Cytotoxic Assessment

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are known for their use in cosmetics, food industries, and traditional medicine. This study presents the chemical composition and therapeutic properties against kinetoplastid and eukaryotic cells of the EO from Melaleucaleucadendra (L.) L. (Myrtaceae). Forty-five compounds were identified in the oil by GC-MS, containing a major component the 1,8-cineole (61%). The EO inhibits the growth of Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma brucei at IC50 values <10 μg/mL. However, 1,8 cineole was not the main compound responsible for the activity. Against malignant (22Rv1, MCF-7, EFO-21, including resistant sublines MCF-7/Rap and MCF-7/4OHTAMO) and non-malignant (MCF-10A, J774A.1 and peritoneal macrophage) cells, IC50 values from 55 to 98 μg/mL and from 94 to 144 μg/mL were obtained, respectively. However, no activity was observed on Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Candida parapsilosis, Microsporum canis, or Trypanosoma cruzi. The EO was able to control the lesion size and parasite burden in the model of cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice caused by L. amazonensis compared to untreated animals (p < 0.05) and similar with those treated with Glucantime® (p > 0.05). This work constitutes the first evidence of antiproliferative potentialities of EO from M. leucadendra growing in Cuba and could promote further preclinical investigations to confirm the medical value of this plant, in particular for leishmaniasis treatment.

Bioactive Compounds from an Endophytic Fungi Nigrospora Aurantiaca

“…As a folk medicine, M. leucadendra Linn. was reported to exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anticancer activities (Rini et al 2012;Monzote et al 2020). However, the activity and chemical investigation of the endophytic fungi from M. leucadendra Linn.…”

Bioactive Essential Oils from Cuban Plants: An Inspiration to Drug Development

“…[24,25], while two chemotypes were observed for D. ambrosioides [18,19], Croton linearis Jacq. [28,29] and M. leucadendra [36,37]. Nevertheless, the chemical biodiversity should be analyzed in greater detail with a higher number of EOs extracted from Cuban plants.…”

“…Relevant antiprotozoal activity also includes the antitrypanosomal potential of essential oils from: (i) C. linearis against Trypanosoma cruzi [28]; (ii) M. leucadendra [36] and P. amboinicus [32] against Trypanosoma brucei; and (iii) P. aduncum [40], P. matricarioides [22], and P. ossanum [54] against both Trypanosoma species. Furthermore, the essential oils from C. linearis [28], M. leucadendra [36], P. aduncum [40], P. amboinicus [32], P. matricarioides [22] and P. ossanum [54] were able to inhibit the growth of more than one protozoal parasite. These results, demonstrating the broad antiprotozoal spectra of Cuban EOs, constitute a potential source for their use in endemic areas, where more than one infectious species is present.…”

“…In this context, the scientific community started to look for innovative sources of anticancer compounds from natural sources [60]. In this sense, the oil from B. graveolens was active against the MCF-7 cancer cell line with an IC 50 < 50 µg/mL [27] and M. leucadendra oil displayed inhibition of the malignant cell lines 22 Rv1, MCF-7 and EFO-21 and resistant sublines such as MCF-7/Rap and MCF-7/4OHTAMO with IC 50 values ranging from 55 to 98 µg/mL [36]. Similar potentialities were observed with the oil from P. amboinicus against the human tumor-derived cell line MCF-7, showing IC 50 < 50 µg/mL [32].…”

Bioactive compounds from an endophytic fungi Nigrospora aurantiaca

“…As a folk medicine, M. leucadendra Linn. was reported to exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anticancer activities (Rini et al 2012 ; Monzote et al 2020 ). However, related researches of the endophytic fungi from M. leucadendra Linn.…”