Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Satureja montana subsp. pisidica (Lamiceae)

Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Apr;9(4):569-72.

Abstract

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil of Satureja montana ssp. pisidica from two localities (mountains Korab and Galicica) were studied. Forty-nine components were identified in the each sample. Oxygenated monoterpene hydrocarbons were the major compounds: carvacrol, thymol, carvacrol methyl ether and beta-linalool. Both tested essential oils showed very high and similar antimicrobial activity. Minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 12.5 microg/mL against S. epidermidis to 50 microg/mL against P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. The cytotoxic effect of the essential oils was tested against MDA-MB-361, MDA-MB-453, HeLa, LS174 and MRC5 cells. The essential oil from Korab demonstrated significantly better results than the oil from Galicica, particularly against HeLa and MDA-MB-453 cell lines, with IC50 values of 63.5 and 72.3 microg/mL, while the oil from Galicica was the most active on the human epithelial cervical cancer HeLa cells (IC50 99.7 microg/mL).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Plant Components, Aerial
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Satureja / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils