Antibacterial, Anti‐Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antiproliferative Properties of Essential Oils from Hairy and Normal Roots of <i>Leonurus sibiricus</i> L. and Their Chemical Composition

Abstract

Essential oils obtained from the NR (normal roots) and HR (hairy roots) of the medicinal plant <i>Leonurus sibiricus</i> root were used in this study. The essential oil compositions were detected by GC-MS. Eighty-five components were identified in total. Seventy components were identified for NR essential oil. The major constituents in NR essential oil were <i>β</i>-selinene (9.9%), selina-4,7-diene (9.7%), <i>(E)</i>-<i>β</i>-caryophyllene (7.3%),myli-4(15)-ene (6.4%), and guaia-1(10),11-diene (5.9%). Sixty-seven components were identified in HR essential oil, the main constituents being <i>(E)</i>-<i>β</i>-caryophyllene (22.6%), and germacrene D (19.8%). The essential oils were tested for cytotoxic effect, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Both essential oils showed activity against grade IV glioma cell lines (IC₅₀ = 400 <i>μ</i>g/mL), antimicrobial (MIC and MFC values of 2500 to 125 <i>μ</i>g/mL), and anti-inflammatory (decreased level of IL-1<i>β</i>, IL-6, TNF-<i>α</i>, and IFN-<i>γ</i> in LPS-stimulated cells).The essential oils exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in ABTS (EC₅₀ = 98 and 88 <i>μ</i>g/mL) assay. This is the first study to examine composition of the essential oils and their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory activities. The results indicate that essential oils form <i>L. sibiricus</i> root may be used in future as an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents with potential application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.