In vitro comparative analysis of antiproliferative activity of essential oil from mandarin peel and its principal component limonene

CARLOS A MANASSERO; JUAN R GIROTTI; SERGIO J MIJAILOVSKY; MARGARITA G DE BRAVO; MONICA POLO

NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 4

1478-6419

The effects of essential oil of mandarin peel (Corrientes, Argentina) and limonene (its major component) were studied on two human tumor cell lines growth (lung adenocarcinoma A549 and hepatocarcinoma Hep G2). The essential oil was obtained by cold press and its composition was investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. The antiproliferative effect was studied using MTT assay. Both mandarin essential oil and limonene tested showed a strong dose-dependent effect on growth inhibition of these cell lines. The essential oil was more effective in A549 than in Hep G2 cells and more effective than limonene in both cases. It is likely that minor components and limonene of the oil could exert additive or synergistic effects. Hence, mandarin essential oil could lead to the development of antitumor agent or complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of diverse cancers.