Characterization of mandarine essential oil (MO). Effect on cholesterol metabolims in HepG2.

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

Potrero de Funes, San Luis

Congreso; SAIB XLVII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Essential oils are fragrant volatile oils found in specialized plant cells or structures. Among their components, monoterpenes are phytochemicals that could have antitumor activity because of their multiple effects on mevalonate pathway. We have shown that MO (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and limonene (LM) exert antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells with an IC50 = 0.063 ìl/ml and 0.15 ìl/ml respectively. The aim of this work was to determine the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of MO and to study the effect of MO and LM on cholesterol homeostasis in HepG2 cells. VOCs of MO were determined by capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Cholesterogenesis, cholesterol content, export and import were determined using radioactive precursors and biochemical methods. More than 89% of MO volatile fraction corresponds to limonene. Linalool, n-decanal, perill aldehyde, citronellol and dodecanal are minor components. Endogenous synthesis and incorporation of exogenous cholesterol are decreased in both treatments with a cholesterol content maintained or slightly increased. Cholesterol export diminished only in LM treated cells. Our data suggest that the antiproliferative activity of MO and LM in HepG2 cells would not be related to depletion of endogenous cholesterol pool and the effect on cholesterogenesis would be the consequence of the inhibition of cell growth.