Cytotoxic Leaf Essential Oils from Neotropical Lauraceae: Synergistic Effects of Essential Oil Components

Abstract

The leaf essential oils of Beilschmiedia sp. nov. “chancho blanco”, Cinnamomum costaricanum, Ocotea meziana, Ocotea sp. nov. “los llanos” and Ocotea sp. nov. “small leaf” showed notable in-vitro cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 cells. In order to examine possible synergistic effects of essential oil components, cytotoxic activities of 1:1 binary mixtures of a number of volatile compounds were determined. Notable synergistic cytotoxic enhancement was observed for mixtures of various compounds with citral, citronellal, and artemisia ketone. The cytotoxic activity of α-humulene, on the other hand, was antagonized by pinenes, thujene, and camphene. Likewise, camphene and terpinen-4-ol reduced the activity of β-caryophyllene.