Oxidative stress protective effect of Dracocephalum multicaule essential oil against human cancer cell line.

In this study, we report the antioxidative and protective effect of essential oil of Dracocephalum multicaule on K562 cells. Our results demonstrated that monoterpenoids, including oxygenated and hydrocarbons, 71.5% and 28.3%, respectively, were the principal essential oils of D. multicaule. Perilla aldehyde (71.5%) and limonene (28.1%) were identified as the main components. Antioxidant studies based on the 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay indicated that the D. multicaule essential oil possesses a marked antioxidant and radical-scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 438.2 μg/mL. Pretreatment with essential oil and main constituents protected K562 cells 49.5% against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage throughout increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione content in K562 cells. Collectively, D. multicaule essential oil and its main compounds especially in combinatory condition at a ratio of 7:3 with high antioxidant properties may be able to protect cells against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ through antioxidative mechanisms.