Composition, in vitro Cytotoxicity, and Anti-mildew Activities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Machilus thunbergii from Taiwan.

This study investigated the chemical composition, in-vitro cytotoxicity, and anti-mildew fungal activities of the essential oil isolated from the leaf of Machilus thunbergii from Taiwan. The essential oil was isolated using hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. Eighty-three compounds were identified, representing 99.8% of the oil. The main components identified were n-decanal (26.6%), β-caryophyllene (15.8%), α-humulene (10.8%), and β-eudesmol (10.5%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against human oral, liver, lung, colon, melanoma, and leukemic cancer cells. The active source compounds were β-caryophyllene, a-humulene, and β-eudesmol. The anti-mildew activity of the leaf oil was also evaluated. Results showed that the leaf oil had excellent anti-mildew activity. For the anti-mildew activity of the leaf oil, the active source compound was determined to be β-eudesmol.