Alessandra Manzo1, Loana Musso2, Sara Panseri3, Marcello Iriti4, Sabrina Dallavalle2, Enrico Catalano5, Giorgio Scarì6, Annamaria Giorgi1,4. 1. Centre for Applied Studies in the Sustainable Management and Protection of the Mountain Environment-Ge.S.Di.Mont, University of Milan, Via Morino 8, 25048, Edolo, Brescia, Italy. 2. Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy. 5. Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale 'A. Avogadro', Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy. 6. Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This research aimed at improving knowledge as to the chemical composition and the antibacterial and anti-cancer activities of the essential oil of Waldheimia glabra, a wild plant from the Himalayan Mountains. RESULTS: The results obtained by GC-MS showed that spathulenol, 9-tetradecenol, thujopsene, α-thujone, santolina alcohol and terpinen-4-ol were the main constituents of Waldheimia glabra essential oil. These results were confirmed by HS-SPME GC-MS analysis that also reported high amounts of artemisia alcohol and camphor. Disc diffusion assay suggested a mild antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, a dose-response correlation was observed between Waldhemia glabra essential oil concentration and viability of human breast adenocarcinoma cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. CONCLUSIONS: Together with the GC-MS method, HS-SPME GC-MS proved to be a reliable technique to characterise the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from aromatic plants. Further studies will focus on W. glabra phytochemicals and their biological activity, in order to support traditional uses of the plant.
BACKGROUND: This research aimed at improving knowledge as to the chemical composition and the antibacterial and anti-cancer activities of the essential oil of Waldheimia glabra, a wild plant from the Himalayan Mountains. RESULTS: The results obtained by GC-MS showed that spathulenol, 9-tetradecenol, thujopsene, α-thujone, santolina alcohol and terpinen-4-ol were the main constituents of Waldheimia glabra essential oil. These results were confirmed by HS-SPME GC-MS analysis that also reported high amounts of artemisia alcohol and camphor. Disc diffusion assay suggested a mild antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, a dose-response correlation was observed between Waldhemia glabra essential oil concentration and viability of humanbreast adenocarcinoma cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. CONCLUSIONS: Together with the GC-MS method, HS-SPME GC-MS proved to be a reliable technique to characterise the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from aromatic plants. Further studies will focus on W. glabra phytochemicals and their biological activity, in order to support traditional uses of the plant.