Antioxidant and Anti-inflammation Activities of Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress Essential Oils in Vitro and in Vivo

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society volume 91, pages1531–1542(2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Essential oils are formed by aromatic plants as secondary metabolites and are widely used in traditional medicine. In this research, the composition and biological activities of three commercial oils essential oils, Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress, were evaluated in cultured cells and in mice. GC/MS revealed different components within these oils. Ocotea and Copaiba did not have an antioxidant activity below 5 % (v/v), and Blue Cypress possessed a moderate anti-oxidant activity. Ocotea was the most potent inhibitor against pro-inflammatory mediators. In addition, Ocotea and a higher concentration of Blue Cypress suppressed LPS-induced PGE2 production. Single high-concentration administration of the oils showed acute toxicity in mice. Blood chemistry analysis showed the three essential oils to be quite safe under a lower sub-lethal dosage. Our findings suggested that essential oils can be useful as active medicines to inhibit over-activation of macrophages followed by stimulation by inflammatory mediators.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. 1.

    Abad MJ, Bedoya LM, Apaza L, Bermejo P (2012) The artemisia L. Genus: a review of bioactive essential oils. Molecules 17:2542–2566

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    Hajhashemi V, Rabbani M, Ghanadi A, Davari E (2010) Evaluation of antianxiety and sedative effects of essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia in mice. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 65:1037–1042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. 3.

    Solomakos N, Govaris A, Koidis P, Botsoglou N (2008) The antimicrobial effect of thyme essential oil, nisin and their combination against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in minced beef during refrigerated storage. Meat Sci 80:159–166

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Shipradeep Karmakar S, Sahay Khare R, Ojha S, Kundu K, Kundu S (2012) Development of probiotic candidate in combination with essential oils from medicinal plant and their effect on enteric pathogens: a review. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2012:457150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    Sylvestre M, Pichette A, Longtin A, Nagau F, Legault J (2006) Essential oil analysis and anticancer activity of leaf essential oil of Croton flavens L. from Guadeloupe. J Ethnopharmacol 103:99–102

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    Suhail MM, Wu W, Cao A, Mondalek FG, Fung KM, Shih PT, Fang YT, Woolley C, Young G, Lin HK (2011) Boswellia sacra essential oil induces tumor cell-specific apoptosis and suppresses tumor aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med 11:129

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. 7.

    Kathirvel P, Ravi S (2012) Chemical composition of the essential oil from basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.) and its in vitro cytotoxicity against HeLa and HEp-2 human cancer cell lines and NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Nat Prod Res 26:1112–1118

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Soeur J, Marrot L, Perez P, Iraqui I, Kienda G, Dardalhon M, Meunier JR, Averbeck D, Huang ME (2011) Selective cytotoxicity of Aniba rosaeodora essential oil towards epidermoid cancer cells through induction of apoptosis. Mutat Res 718:24–32

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Ballabeni V, Tognolini M, Bertoni S, Bruni R, Guerrini A, Rueda GM, Barocelli E (2007) Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from wild Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) calices from Amazonian Ecuador. Pharmacol Res 55:23–30

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Ballabeni V, Tognolini M, Giorgio C, Bertoni S, Bruni R, Barocelli E (2010) Ocotea quixos Lam. essential oil: in vitro and in vivo investigation on its anti-inflammatory properties. Fitoterapia 81:289–295

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Leandro LM, Vargas Fde S, Barbosa PC, Neves JK, da Silva JA, da Veiga-Junior VF (2012) Chemistry and biological activities of terpenoids from copaiba (Copaifera spp.) oleoresins. Molecules 17:3866–3889

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Guimaraes-Santos A, Santos DS, Santos IR, Lima RR, Pereira A, de Moura LS, Carvalho RN Jr, Lameira O, Gomes-Leal W (2012) Copaiba oil-resin treatment is neuroprotective and reduces neutrophil recruitment and microglia activation after motor cortex excitotoxic injury. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012:918174

    Google Scholar 

  13. 13.

    Kasugai S, Hasegawa N, Ogura H (1990) A simple in vito cytotoxicity test using the MTT (3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) colorimetric assay: analysis of eugenol toxicity on dental pulp cells (RPC-C2A). Jpn J Pharmacol 52:95–100

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Joshi SC, Verma AR, Mathela CS (2010) Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the leaf essential oils of Himalayan Lauraceae species. Food Chem Toxicol 48:37–40

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    Toyosaki T (2002) Antioxidant effect of beta-carotene on lipid peroxidation and synergism with tocopherol in an emulsified linoleic acid model system. Int J Food Sci Nutr 53:419–423

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    Al-Saikhan MS, Howard LR, Miller JCJ (1995) Antioxidant activity and total phenolics in different genotypes of potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.). J Food Sci 60:2

    Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    Shih WL, Yu FL, Chang CD, Liao MH, Wu HY, Lin PY (2013) Suppression of AMF/PGI-mediated tumorigenic activities by ursolic acid in cultured hepatoma cells and in a mouse model. Mol Carcinog 52:800–812

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Lin PY, Liu HJ, Chang CD, Chang CI, Hsu JL, Liao MH, Lee JW, Shih WL (2011) Avian reovirus S1133-induced DNA damage signaling and subsequent apoptosis in cultured cells and in chickens. Arch Virol 156:1917–1929

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. 19.

    Wu HY, Chang CI, Lin BW, Yu FL, Lin PY, Hsu JL, Yen CH, Liao MH, Shih WL (2011) Suppression of hepatitis B virus × protein-mediated tumorigenic effects by ursolic Acid. J Agric Food Chem 59:1713–1722

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Becker AJ, Uckert S, Tsikas D, Noack H, Stief CG, Frolich JC, Wolf G, Jonas U (2000) Determination of nitric oxide metabolites by means of the Griess assay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the cavernous and systemic blood of healthy males and patients with erectile dysfunction during different functional conditions of the penis. Urol Res 28:364–369

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Robak J, Marcinkiewicz E, Michalska Z, Gryglewski RJ (1997) Nitric oxide donation and nitrite assays in the presence of thiols and albumin as determined by Griess’ and Werringloer’s methods. Pol J Pharmacol 49:255–262

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Burger C, Fischer DR, Cordenunzzi DA, Batschauer AP, Cechinel Filho V, Soares AR (2005) Acute and subacute toxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract from Wedelia paludosa (Acmela brasiliensis) (Asteraceae) in mice. J Pharm Pharm Sci 8:370–373

    Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    Chinnam P, Mohsin M, Shafee LM (2012) Evaluation of acute toxicity of pioglitazone in mice. Toxicol Int 19:250–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    Menezes IA, Marques MS, Santos TC, Dias KS, Silva AB, Mello IC, Lisboa AC, Alves PB, Cavalcanti SC, Marcal RM, Antoniolli AR (2007) Antinociceptive effect and acute toxicity of the essential oil of Hyptis fruticosa in mice. Fitoterapia 78:192–195

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    Chirita C, Cristea AN, Militaru M, Negres S, Zbarcea CE, Nuta DC (2010) Pharmacological evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity and antidepressant effect after acute administration of novel n-substituted benzamides. Farmacia 58:21–27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. 26.

    Takaku S, Haber WA, Setzer WN (2007) Leaf essential oil composition of 10 species of Ocotea (Lauraceae) from Monteverde, Costa Rica. Biochem Syst Ecol 35:532–535

    Google Scholar 

  27. 27.

    Brunia R, Medicib A, Andreottib E, Fantinc C, Muzzolib M, Dehesad M, Romagnolie C, Sacchettib G (2004) Chemical composition and biological activities of Ishpingo essential oil, a traditional Ecuadorian spice from Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) flower calices. Food Chem 85:415–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. 28.

    Juniora VFV, Rosasc EC, Carvalhoc MV, Henriquesc MGMO, Pintob AC (2007) Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of copaiba oils from Copaifera cearensis Huber ex Ducke, Copaifera reticulata Ducke and Copaifera multijuga Hayne—a comparative study. J Ethnopharmacol 112:248–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. 29.

    Ogunwande IA, Olawore NO, Kasali AA, König WA (2003) Chemical composition of the leaf volatile oils of Callitris intratropica R. T. Baker & H. G. Smith from Nigeria. Flavour Fragr J 18:387–389

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. 30.

    Belloc F, Dumain P, Boisseau MR, Jalloustre C, Reiffers J, Bernard P, Lacombe F (1994) A flow cytometric method using Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide for simultaneous cell cycle analysis and apoptosis determination in unfixed cells. Cytometry 17:59–65

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  31. 31.

    Nicoletti I, Migliorati G, Pagliacci MC, Grignani F, Riccardi C (1991) A rapid and simple method for measuring thymocyte apoptosis by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. J Immunol Methods 139:271–279

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  32. 32.

    Mensor LL, Menezes FS, Leitao GG, Reis AS, dos Santos TC, Coube CS, Leitao SG (2001) Screening of Brazilian plant extracts for antioxidant activity by the use of DPPH free radical method. Phytother Res 15:127–130

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  33. 33.

    Black HS (2002) Pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant mechanism(s) of BHT and beta-carotene in photocarcinogenesis. Front Biosci 7:d1044–d1055

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. 34.

    Mechergui K, Coelho JA, Serra MC, Lamine SB, Boukhchina S, Khouja ML (2010) Essential oils of Origanum vulgare L. subsp glandulosum (Desf.) letswaart from Tunisia: chemical composition and antioxidant activity. J Sci Food Agr 90:1745–1749

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  35. 35.

    Saleh MA, Clark S, Woodard B, Deolu-Sobogun SA (2010) Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of essential oils. Ethn Dis 20:(S1)78–(S1)82

    Google Scholar 

  36. 36.

    Zhou L, Hashimoto K, Satoh K, Yokote Y, Kitajima M, Oizumi T, Oizumi H, Sakagami H (2009) Effect of Sasa senanensis Rehder extract on NO and PGE2 production by activated mouse macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. In Vivo 23:773–777

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. 37.

    Harbrecht BG, Kim YM, Wirant EA, Simmons RL, Billiar TR (1997) Timing of prostaglandin exposure is critical for the inhibition of LPS- or IFN-gamma-induced macrophage NO synthesis by PGE2. J Leukoc Biol 61:712–720

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. 38.

    Brasier AR, Ron D (1992) Luciferase reporter gene assay in mammalian cells. Methods Enzymol 216:386–397

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  39. 39.

    Brasier AR, Tate JE, Habener JF (1989) Optimized use of the firefly luciferase assay as a reporter gene in mammalian cell lines. Biotechniques 7:1116–1122

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. 40.

    Senftleben U, Karin M (2002) The IKK/NF-kappa B pathway. Crit Care Med 30:S18–S26

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  41. 41.

    Karin M, Delhase M (2000) The I kappa B kinase (IKK) and NF-kappa B: key elements of proinflammatory signalling. Semin Immunol 12:85–98

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  42. 42.

    Lawrence T (2009) The nuclear factor NF-kappaB pathway in inflammation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 1:a001651

    Google Scholar 

  43. 43.

    Hoesel B, Schmid JA (2013) The complexity of NF-kappaB signaling in inflammation and cancer. Mol Cancer 12:86

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  44. 44.

    Lipnick RL, Cotruvo JA, Hill RN, Bruce RD, Stitzel KA, Walker AP, Chu I, Goddard M, Segal L, Springer JA et al (1995) Comparison of the up-and-down, conventional LD50, and fixed-dose acute toxicity procedures. Food Chem Toxicol 33:223–231

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  45. 45.

    Gomes NM, Rezende CM, Fontes SP, Matheus ME, Fernandes PD (2007) Antinociceptive activity of Amazonian Copaiba oils. J Ethnopharmacol 109:486–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. 46.

    Silva FA, Borges F, Guimaraes C, Lima JL, Matos C, Reis S (2000) Phenolic acids and derivatives: studies on the relationship among structure, radical scavenging activity, and physicochemical parameters. J Agric Food Chem 48:2122–2126

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  47. 47.

    Olson H, Betton G, Robinson D, Thomas K, Monro A, Kolaja G, Lilly P, Sanders J, Sipes G, Bracken W, Dorato M, Van Deun K, Smith P, Berger B, Heller A (2000) Concordance of the toxicity of pharmaceuticals in humans and in animals. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 32:56–67

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from Young Living Essential Oils, Lehi, UT, USA. We thank Sarah Parkin for copy-editing the manuscript. We are grateful for the valuable suggestions from Dr Chi-I Chang (Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan) and Dr. Hsueh-Kung Lin (Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA). The technical support of Jessica Renata Yoewono (Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia) is greatly appreciated.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1, Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung, 91201, Taiwan

    R. Amilia Destryana, Tzou-Chi Huang & Wen-Ling Shih

  2. Department of Research and Discovery, Young Living Essential Oils, Lehi, UT, USA

    D. Gary Young & Cole L. Woolley

  3. Austronesian Medicine and Agriculture Research Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Tzou-Chi Huang & Wen-Ling Shih

  4. Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia

    R. Amilia Destryana

  5. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Hung-Yi Wu

Authors
  1. R. Amilia Destryana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Gary Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cole L. Woolley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tzou-Chi Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hung-Yi Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wen-Ling Shih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wen-Ling Shih.

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amilia Destryana, R., Gary Young, D., Woolley, C.L. et al. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammation Activities of Ocotea, Copaiba and Blue Cypress Essential Oils in Vitro and in Vivo . J Am Oil Chem Soc 91, 1531–1542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-014-2504-4

Download citation

Keywords

  • Ocotea
  • Copaiba
  • Blue Cypress
  • Antioxidant
  • Acute toxicity