Chemical composition and biological activities of Asimina triloba leaf essential oil

Abstract

Leaf essential oil of Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal (F. Annonaceae) was found to be active against both human lung carcinoma and breast carcinoma cell lines. From this hydrodistillation extract, 37 components were identified by GC-MS analysis; sesquiterpenes dominated the oil composition (83%), with cadinene derivatives occurring in the greatest abundance (70%). Using the DDPH assay for antioxidant testing, the essential oil displayed moderate activity relative to vitamin E. These findings suggest that A. triloba essential oil may provide leads for active anticancer agents.

Keywords::

• Annonaceae
• Asimina triloba
• anticancer
• antioxidant
• essential oil
• GC-MS
• sesquiterpenes

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Robert Pratley, University of Kentucky Herbarium, for plant authentication and Dr. Teresa Fan, University of Louisville, KY, USA for assistance with the anticancer assay.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest.