Evaluation of the toxicity of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla from different origins.

SABINI,LILIANA; CORTEZ, M. J; ESCOBAR, F.; OLIVA M DE LAS MERCEDES; ZYGADLO, JA; DEMO M

Jornada; -XXV Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2008

Introduction: Aloysia triphylla (L´Her.) Briton, (cedrón) is anaromatic shrub native of Argentina, Chile and Perú. It is cultivated in América, Europe and Africa. Its essential oils (EO) areof commercial interest, antimicotic, antibacterial and acaricidalproperties having been attributed to them. Studies of the toxicityof the EO on eukaryotic cells should be performed to assess theirselectivity action against microorganisms. Aims: To evaluate thetoxicity of A.triphylla EO of different origins on Vero cells (invitro) and on Artemia salina (in vivo). Materials and methods:The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation of plants from La Paz(Cba), La Viña (Salta), Asunción del Paraguay (Paraguay) andINTA-Castelar (Bs. As.) and analyzed by gas chromatography andmass spectrometry (GC-MS). The toxicity on A.salina (LD50) andthe MCNC and the CC50 on Vero cells were calculated. Statisticallinear regression analysis was performed. (Origin 6.0). Results:The main components identified were: neral (12.4-29.2), geranial(3.3-29.3), and limonene (8.2-21.3). The EO from Paraguay andfrom La Viña showed lower toxicity values than the other oils.Conclusion: The low toxicity of A.triphylla EO makes it a promising species for the formulation of new therapeutical, cosmeticand food industry alternatives.