Chemical Composition and Some Biological Activities of Artemisia marschalliana Essential Oil

The aerial parts of Artemisia marschalliana Sprengel as an indigenous species of genus Artemisia in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran, was subjected to phytochemical analysis, as well asanti-proliferative, free-radical-scavenging and anti-malarialactivities.

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of A. marschalliana was analyzed by GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and GC/FID (gas chromatography/ flame ionization detector). The anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, and anti-malarial activities of the essential oil were assessed by MTT, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and cell-free β-hematin formation assays, respectively.

A total of 38 constituents were identified, which represented 95.55% of the oil. The essential oil was characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The major components of the oil were spathulenol (38.25%), isoaromadendrene epoxide (8.5%), and caryophyllene oxide (7.31%). The oil exhibited cytotoxic activity against the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of anti-malarial assay was 0.38±0.04 mg/mL; the oil, however, displayed low anti-oxidant activity.

These findings will be beneficial for the further development of new chemotherapeutic or anti-malarial agents.