Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Activity of Senecio Leucanthemifolius Poiret Essential Oil

Abstract Our work consisted in evaluating the in vitro cytotoxicity of Senecio leucanthemifolius Poiret essential oil. This oil was extracted by Hydrodistillation followed by a liquid /liquid extraction (water/ ethyl acetate). The chemical composition was determinated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometey (CG-MS). The major compounds which characterize this plant are α-Hydroxy-p-cymen (27.3 %), carvacrol (12.2 %), nerol (10.9 %) carveol (9.2 %) and cis-α-bisabolene (7.0 %). The cytotoxicity was evaluated through the use of a human cervix uteri cancerous cellular line (HeLa cell line). Essential oil showed an important cytotoxic activity against the cancer cells with an IC50 = 1.158 μl/ml.