GC/MS Analysis and Molecular Profiling of Lemon Volatile Oil against Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common among women cancers and the most likely to cause death. Citrus plants essential oils are reported for having potential cytotoxic activities. Thirty three and thirty five compounds were identified from leaves and green branches of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. family (Rutaceae), respectively. The main components were limonene (47.24 %; 55.23 %), geranial (14.48 %; 7.94 %) and neral (12.1 %; 6.1 %). Lemon leaf oil showed cytotoxic activity against breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) at IC₅₀ of 10 % (v/v). A significant increase in the expression levels of the apoptotic protein caspase-8, a significant decrease in the expression levels of both the anti-apoptotic protein BcL-2 and the proliferative marker Ki-67 were observed (in comparison with un treated cells ; p<0.05). The docking results showed high affinity of geranial against caspase-8 and caspase-9 indicating the promising cytotoxic effect of lemon oil through enhancing apoptosis. Further studies are required to test the safety and toxicological properties of the oil as medicine.

Key words:

• Citrus limon
• MCF-7
• BcL-2
• Ki-67
• caspases
• molecular docking