Identification of bioactive compounds and cytogenotoxicity of the essential oil from the leaves of Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth

ABSTRACT

Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth, popularly known as “quince” and “velame,” contains a high concentration of volatile oils in the leaves, and widely used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic and local anesthetic. The objectives of this investigation were to (1) identify the phytochemical compounds and (2) assess the cytogenotoxicity of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of C. heliotropiifolius Kunth. The oil was extracted utilizing hydrodistillation and phytochemical profile determined using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS). In the toxicogenetics analysis, Allium cepa roots were exposed to 1% dimethylsulfoxide or methylmethanesulfonate (MMS, 10 µg/ml) negative and positive controls, respectively, and to C. heliotropiifolius oil at 6 concentrations (0.32; 1.6; 8; 40; 200 or 1000 µg/ml). The phytochemical profile exhibited 40 chromatographic bands, and 33 compounds identified. α-pinene (16.7%) and 1,8-cineole (13.81%) were identified as the major compounds. Some of these identified secondary metabolites displayed biological and pharmacological activities previously reported including antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory as well insecticidal, antiviral, anti-fungal actions. In the A. cepa test, C. heliotropiifolius leaves oil induced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 0.32, 1.6 or 200 µg/ml and genotoxicity at 200 or 1000 µg/ml as evidenced by increased presence of micronuclei and significant chromosomal losses. Based upon our observations data demonstrated that the essential oil of C. heliotropiifolius leaves contain monoterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated sesquiterpenes which are associated with cytotoxic and genotoxic responses noted in on A. cepa cells.

KEYWORDS:

• Allium cepa
• gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
• phytocompounds

Abbreviations

GC-MS – Gas chromatography with mass spectrometer; UESPI – State University of Piauí; SISGEN – Genetic Heritage Management and Associated Traditional Knowledge; WHO – World Health Organization; C. – Croton; A. – Allium; O - The West; S – South; min. – Minute; mm – millimeter; eV – electron volts; mL – Milliliter; mg - milligram; H.E. – Hematoxylin and Eosin; Fig. – Figure; Cm – Centimeter; SC – Solvent Control; PC – Positive control; NC – Negative control; L – Liters; x – times; DMSO – Dimethylsulfoxide; MMS – Methylmethanesulfonate; µg – microliters; MI – Mitotic Index; NB – Nuclear sprout; CB – Chromosome breakage; BC – Binucleated cell; CA – Chromosomal Adherence; Cm – C-metaphase; CL – Chromosomal loss; Pc- Polyploid cell; CBr – Chromosomal Bridge; MA – Multipolar anaphase; MABr – Multipolar anaphase with chromosomal bridge

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the administration of Universidade Estadual do Piauí and Universidade Federal do Piauí for providing laboratory facilities, and Dr. Antônio Martins Maia Filho and Dr Valdiléia Teixeira Uchôa for the guidelines.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.