Phytochemical analysis, cytotoxic activity and constituents–activity relationships of the leaves of Cinnamomum iners (Reinw. ex Blume-Lauraceae)

Abstract

The leaves of Cinnamomum iners (Reinw. ex Blume-Lauraceae) have been refluxed successively with chloroform and alcohol to get chloroform extract and alcoholic extract. Both the extracts have been assayed for cytotoxicity against human colorectal tumour cells. The chloroform extract exhibited significant cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ 31 µg mL⁻¹ (p < 0.01). However, ethanol extract was found to be much less cytotoxic with IC₅₀ > 200 µg mL⁻¹. The chloroform extract has been further proceeded for chemical analysis by GC-TOFMS and 178 components were identified including acids, amines, amides, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, benzene derivatives, bicyclic compounds, terpenes, hydrocarbons, naphthalene derivatives, furan derivatives, azulenes, etc. Nine components representing 51.73% of the total chloroform extract were detected as major components. Caryophyllene (14.41%) and Eicosanoic acid ethyl ester (12.17%) are the most prominent components of the chloroform extract. β-Caryophyllene (14.41%) as most abundant compound supports potent cytotoxicity as shown by chloroform extract.

Keywords:

• Cinnamomum iners
• chloroform extract
• cytotoxicity
• colorectal cancer
• GC-TOFMS
• caspases

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for the University Grant 1001/PTEKIND/8140152.