Mahboubeh Taherkhani - Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Takestan, Iran

The essential oil from the aerial parts ofJurinea leptoloba DC., collected from Shiraz (South of Iran), was investigated for total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. TPC of J. leptoloba oil was determined to be ۱۶.۵۳ ± ۵.۶۹ μg gallic acid equivalent/mg sample (μg GAE/mg oil) using the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. The ferric reducing power of the oil was determined ۰.۱۱۷ ± ۰.۰۱ GAE (mg/g).J. leptoloba oil exhibited a dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH, with an IC۵۰ value of ۲۴.۵۰ mg/ml. Antioxidant activity percentage of the essential oil of J. leptoloba determined by β-carotene bleaching test revealed less potential than both standards BHT and BHA (۶۲.۰۱ ± ۲.۴۵%, ۲.۵ mg/ml oil). Cytotoxicity was measured using a modified MTT assay. IC۵۰ valuesforHeLa and lymphocyte cells were calculated to be ۲۹۰.۷۶ and ۲۹۰۰.۹۷ µg/ml, respectively. The results suggest application of J. leptoloba essentialoil as a moderate antioxidant and anticancer agent.

Jurinea leptoloba, Total phenolic content, Antioxidant activity, Cytotoxicity