Objective: To study the volatile constituents from peel of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. and its anti-tumor activity.
Methods: The volatile components from peel of A. sinensis were extracted by chloroform and analysed by the GC-MS technique. Assay the peel extract of A. sinensis on MCF-7 cell proliferation using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) method.
Results: GC-MS gave 131 peaks and 28 compounds have been identified. The contents of the benzene compounds accounted 7.79% of the volatile components, the esquiterpenes accounted 5.44%, and the relative content of fatty acids accounted 3.08%. In addition, two 2-(2-phenylethyl)-color ketones and a chromone component were detected, and the total relative content accounted 12.3%. The inhibition rate of human breast cancer cells reached 99. 6% when the concentration was 500 microg/mL.
Conclusion: The volatile components from peel of A. sinensis were analysed and a large number of characteristic elements of A. sinensis were detected for the first time. The chloroform extract from peel of A. sinensis significantly inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer cells.