Cytotoxic effect of essential oils of Tumeric(Curcuma longa L. ) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris, L. ) on some human tumor cell lines

Abstract: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L. ) and thyme ( Thymus vulgaris L. ) have been used throughout the world as spice, food and traditional herb. Turmeric and thyme essential oils fractions were analyzed by GC-MS. Turmeric and thyme were identified and classified into chemical categories namely, Monocyclic terpenes ( 3.15, 7.74 %), Bi cyclic tecrpenes (6.19, %5.87), Aliphatic hydrocarbons ( 0.0, 0.23%), Aromatic hydrocarbons (0.65, 1.59 %), Oxides ( 1.40, 0.49 %) , Alcohol (3.65, 20.38 %),Phenol and phenol ethers (1.08, 62.20 %) as major compound in thyme, Ketones ( 72.56, 0.0%) as major compound in turmeric and Sesequiterpene (8.07, 0.0 %), respectively. Also, turmeric and thyme essential oils at (50,100 and 150 ppm) were tested for antioxidant activity using the (Rancimat assay) compared with BHT (200ppm) showed that 70.19 , 79.87 , 85.41 ; 73.67 , 84.38 , 91.48 and 72.90 % , respectively. In this study, we studies in vitro the effect of turmeric and thyme essential oils in a variety of human cancer cell lines HEPG2 ( Liver carcinoma cell line ) , U251(Brain tumor cell line ), MCF7(Breast carcinoma cell line), HCT116 (Colon carcinoma cell line) .The results showed that , the turmeric and thyme essential oils concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell growth were 0.87, 2.82 µg (HEPG2) ,1.07, 0.67µg (U251),1.01, 1.21 µg (MCF7) and 0.74, 0.67 µg (HCT116), respectively. The present results suggested that, the volatile essential oils are used to inhibit tumor growth.
Publication year 2009
Pages 40-57
Organization Name
City القاهرة
serial title كلية صيدلة جامعة الازهر
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Diet and diet-related diseasesHuman nutrition - General aspectsNutrition programmes
Publication Type Journal
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