Chemical composition and biological activities of Guatteria elliptica R. E. Fries (Annonaceae) essential oils

Leaf from two Guatteria elliptica R. E. Fries (Annonaceae) specimens were collected at Paranapiacaba and Caraguatatuba in Sao Paulo (Brazil). The essential oils presented (GC/GC-MS), as major compound, spathulenol (53.9%) for the Paranapiacaba specimen and caryophyllene oxide (40.9%) for Caraguatatuba. The oils showed low antioxidant activity with EC50 = 7.24 ± 1.03 and 28.68 ± 5.78 mg/mL, respectively, for Paranapiacaba and Caraguatatuba specimens. Both oils did not show a relevant (MIC > 3 mg/mL) antimicrobial activity. However, the Paranapiacaba oil presented an important antitumour activity against breast and prostate cancer cells (IC50 = 7.01 ± 0.23 and 5.35 ± 0.35 μg/mL, respectively) and a low cytotoxicity against normal fibroblast cells (IC50 > 22.27 e IC10 = 18.55 ± 1.89 μg/mL). Isolated major compound, spathulenol, showed good activity against MCF-7 and PC-3 with IC50 = 5.38 ± 0.20 and 2.25 ± 0.28 μg/mL μg/mL, respectively.