چکیده (انگلیسی):

Objective: To explore the potential of essential oil, as therapeutic molecule source, from
olibanum of Boswellia papyrifera (Burseraceae), leafy stems of Cymbopogon schoenanthus
(Poaceae) and Croton zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae) and rhizome of Cyperus
rotundus (Cyperaceae) found in Sudan. Respective essential oil was evaluated for antiproliferative,
antibacterial and antioxidant activity.
Methods: Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and then analysed by gas
chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Anti-proliferative activity was
determined against human cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB231, HT29 and HCT116) by the
thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) procedure. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by
diphenyl 2 pycril hydrazil (DPPH) assay. Antibacterial activity was determined against two
Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria by microdilution method.
Results: The essential oil from olibanum of Boswellia papyrifera contained mainly alcohol
and ester derivatives (46.82%) while monoterpenes (69.84%) dominated in Corton zambesicus
oil. Sesquiterpenes were the most highly represented classes of terpene derivatives
in Cyperus schoenanthus (71.59%) and Cyperus rotundus (44.26%). Oil of Cymbopogon
schoenanthus revealed the best anti-proliferative activity against HCT116 cell line with
IC50 value at (19.1 ± 2.0) mg/mL. Oil of Croton zambesicus showed the best antioxidant
activity [EC50 (4.20 ± 0.19) mg/mL]. All oils showed good antibacterial activity against
Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) value ranged from 16 to 250 mg/mL.
Conclusions: The results suggest that the essential oils of these plants could be used as a
source of natural anti-proliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial agents.