Anticancer and Antibacterial Effect of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis, in Vitro

The spread of infectious diseases and malignant diseases has been increasing in the recent years. The use of chemical drugs, in addition to the development of drug resistance, also cause serious side effects. We conducted the present study to examine the antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-cancer effects of E. camaldulensis as a herbal remedy.

We extracted E. camaldulensis using a hydroalcoholic solution. The antiviral effect of the plant was investigated at the time of the Herpes simplex virus entry and once the virus entered the cell. Moreover, we evaluated MIC and MBC of E. camaldulensis on Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyrogens, Streptococcus agalactiae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Corynebacterium glutamicum. For the evaluation of cell cytotoxicity, HFF-2 (NCBI: C163) and A549 )ATCC: CCL81) cell lines were utilized.

The results of the cytotoxicity test indicated that both cell lines were sensitive to the hydroalcoholic extracts of E. camaldulensis. The MIC for A. baumannii, K. pneumonia, and C. glutamicum was 6.25 µg/ml, and the MIC for S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and S. agalactiae was 12.5 µg/ml. MBC was evaluated as 25 µg/ml for S. aureus, S. pyogenes, and S. Agalactiae. It was 12.5 µg/ml for A. baumannii, K. pneumonia, and S. Agalactiae. IC50 value on entering the virus into the cell was 40 µg/ml, and following the absorption of the virus, the IC50 value was 80 µg/ml.

The results of this study demonstrated that E. camaldulensis is of antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-cancer potentials and could be used as a candidate for the preparation of a new drug.