Evaluation of the Anticancer Potential of Morus nigra and Ocimum basilicum Mixture against Different Cancer Cell Lines: An In Vitro Evaluation

Morus nigra (M) and Ocimum basilicum (O) mixture (MO2) extract was extracted using hexane (MO2H), chloroform (MO2C), ethyl acetate (MO2E), and methanol (MO2M) in a Soxhlet apparatus. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The IC50 values of the MO2C-treated cancer cells were 11.31 μg/mL (MDA-MB-231), 15.45 μg/mL (MCF-7), 18.9 μg/mL (HepG2), 26.33 μg/mL (Huh-7), 30.17 μg/mL (LoVo), and 36.76 μg/mL (HCT116). MO2C-treated cells showed cellular and nuclear morphological alterations like chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies as observed using light and fluorescent microscopy. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were investigated in vitro using 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and egg albumin denaturation assays. It was evident that the MO2M extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (18.13%), followed by the MO2E extract (12.25%), MO2C extract (9.380%), and MO2H extract (6.31%). The highest inhibition percentage of albumin denaturation was observed in MO2H (28.54%), followed by MO2M (4.32%) at 0.2 and 0.1 mg/mL concentrations, respectively. The compounds identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis for MO2C extract were α-trans-bergamotene, germacrene D, selin-4,7(11)-diene, 2 tridecen-1-ol, and 2-decen-1-ol. The present study reveals that MO2C has promising anticancer activity and may serve as a potent polyherbal extract in cancer treatment.

Essential Oil of the Plants Growing in the Brazilian Amazon: Chemical Composition, Antioxidants, and Biological Applications

Essential oils are biosynthesized in the secondary metabolism of plants, and in their chemical composition, they can be identified different classes of compounds with potential antioxidant and biological applications. Over the years in the Amazon, several species of aromatic plants were discovered and used in traditional medicine. The literature has shown that essential oils extracted from amazon species have several biological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and antiprotozoal activities. These activities are related to the diversified chemical composition found in essential oils that, by synergism, favors its pharmacological action. In light of this vital importance, this study aimed at performing a review of the literature with particular emphasis on the chemical composition and biological activities in studies conducted with species collected in the Amazon, taking into consideration in particular the last 10 years of collection and research.

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Myrcia multiflora and Eugenia florida Essential Oils

The essential oils of three specimens of Myrcia multiflora (A, B and C) and Eugenia florida were extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical compositions from the essential oils were identified by gas chromatography and flame ionization detection (CG/MS and CG-FID). The fungicide potential of the EOs against five fungicide yeasts was assessed: Candida albicans INCQS-40175, C. tropicalis ATCC 6258, C. famata ATCC 62894, C. krusei ATCC 13803 and C. auris IEC-01. The essential oil of the specimen Myrcia multiflora (A) was characterized by the major compounds: α-bulnesene (26.79%), pogostol (21.27%) and δ-amorphene (6.76%). The essential oil of the specimen M. multiflora (B) was rich in (E)-nerolidol (44.4%), (E)-γ-bisabolene (10.64%) and (E,E)-α-farnesene (8.19%), while (E)-nerolidol (92.21%) was the majority of the specimen M. multiflora (C). The sesquiterpenes seline-3,11-dien-6-α-ol (12.93%), eremoligenol (11%) and γ-elemene (10.70%) characterized the chemical profile of the EOs of E. florida. The fungal species were sensitive to the essential oil of M. multiflora (B) (9-11 mm), and the lowest inhibitory concentration (0.07%) was observed in the essential oil of M. multiflora (A) against the yeasts of C. famata. Fungicidal action was observed in the essential oils of M. multiflora (A) against C. famata, with an MIC of 0.78 µL/mL and 3.12 µL/mL; C. albicans, with an MFC of 50 µL/mL and M. multiflora (C) against C. albicans; and C. krusei, with a MFC of 50 µL/mL.

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Licaria, Nectrandra and Ocotea Species (Lauraceae) with Occurrence in Brazilian Biomes

Lauraceae species are known as excellent essential oil (EO) producers, and their taxa are distributed throughout the territory of Brazil. This study presents a systematic review of chemical composition, seasonal studies, occurrence of chemical profiles, and biological activities to EOs of species of Licaria, Nectandra, and Ocotea genera collected in different Brazilian biomes. Based on our survey, 39 species were studied, with a total of 86 oils extracted from seeds, leaves, stem barks, and twigs. The most representative geographic area in specimens was the Atlantic Forest (14 spp., 30 samples) followed by the Amazon (13 spp., 30 samples), Cerrado (6 spp., 14 samples), Pampa (4 spp., 10 samples), and Caatinga (2 spp., 2 samples) forests. The majority of compound classes identified in the oils were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. Among them, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, caryophyllene oxide, α-bisabolol, and bicyclogermacrenal were the main constituents. Additionally, large amounts of phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes such as safrole, 6-methoxyelemicin, apiole, limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and camphor were reported. Nectandra megatopomica showed considerable variation with the occurrence of fourteen chemical profiles according to seasonality and collection site. Several biological activities have been attributed to these oils, especially cytotoxic, antibacterial, antioxidant and antifungal potential, among other pharmacological applications.