Análise do perfil fitoquímico e da atividade antioxidante e citotóxica do óleo essencial de gengibre (Zingiber officinale)

Abstract

Abstract: In Brazil, the National Cancer Institute (INCA) estimates about 600,000 new cases of cancer between the years 2016 and 2017. Ginger essential oil (OEG) is known for presenting important pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-aging activities. -inflammatory, antibacterial and anticancer. The objective of this work is to identify the main components present in OEG, as well as to analyze the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of ginger essential oil in vitro. Methods: OEG was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC/MS). Antioxidant activity was determined via DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging tests. Cytotoxic activity was determined through the MTT assay, using cell lines of human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) and breast cancer (MDB-MA-231). Results: OEG was characterized by the dominant presence of α-citral (29.1%), β-citral (16.6%) and geraniol (10.84%). The antioxidant effect on DPPH radical inhibition was IC50 values of 4.43 ± 0.20 mg/mL. Furthermore, the tested OEG showed excellent free radical scavenging properties against the ABTS cation radical, 0.74 ± 0.05 mg/Ml, when compared to the DPPH radical scavenging potential. IC50 values of OEG in HT-29, HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells were 37.41 ± 0.38 µg/ml, 3.73 ± 0.10 µg/ml and 145.19 ± 0.95 µg/ml , respectively. Therefore, OEG showed good inhibition of proliferation of all cell lines at concentrations ranging from 4.11 to 1000 µg/mL. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent, and the higher the OEG concentration, the better the inhibition. Conclusion: OEG has good biological properties demonstrating excellent antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. However, more research is needed to make this rich biological component able to properly collaborate with human health.