Biological Activity of the Essential Oil of Myrcianthes sp. nov. “Black Fruit” from Monteverde, Costa Rica

William N. Setzer; Mary C. Setzer; Debra M. Moriarity; Robert B. Bates; William A. Haber

doi:10.1055/s-2006-960816

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 1999; 65(5): 468-469
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960816

Letter

Biological Activity of the Essential Oil of Myrcianthes sp. nov. “Black Fruit” from Monteverde, Costa Rica

William N. Setzer¹ , Mary C. Setzer² , Debra M. Moriarity² , Robert B. Bates³ , William A. Haber⁴

¹Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A.
²Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A.
³Department of Chemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.
⁴Apdo. 50-5655, Monteverde de Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Abstract

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Abstract

The leaf essential oil of an undescribed species of Myrcianthes has been obtained from Monteverde, Costa Rica. The essential oil exhibits in vitro cytotoxic activity against Hep-G2 and SK-Mel-28 human tumor cell lines. A GC/MS analysis shows the essential oil to be composed of 2-heptanol, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, cineole, and α-terpineol. α-Pinene, β-pinene, and limonene account for the cytotoxic activity of the leaf essential oil of Myrcianthes sp. nov. “black fruit”.

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