Composition, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of essential oils from Aristolochia mollissima

The compositions of the essential oils from the rhizome and the aerial part of Aristolochia mollissima were analysed by GC–MS, 68 constituents (88.2% of the total oil) and 74 constituents (89.4% of the total oil) were identified, respectively. 2,2,7,7-Tetramethyltricyclo[6.2.1.0(1,6)]undec-4-en-3-one was the most abundant constituent among all in the ratios of 15.9% and 13.5% from the rhizome and the aerial part of A. mollissima, respectively. Among other main compounds, (E)-β-santalol acetate (10.3%) and camphene (6.7%) were detected in the rhizome oil, spathulenol (6.8%) was detected in the oil from the aerial par of A. mollissima.The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the rhizome and the aerial part of A. mollissima was evaluated against 20 microorganisms using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to both oils than gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. The rhizome oil showed the strongest bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, whereas the oil from the aerial part of A. mollissima exerted the strongest bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-senstive Staphylococcus aureus. The in vitro cytotoxicity of both oils on six human cancer cell lines were also examined. The cytotoxicity of the rhizome oil on four cancer cell lines (ACHN, Bel-7402, Hep G2 and HeLa) was significantly stronger than that of the oil from the aerial part of A. mollissima.