Chemical Composition, Larvicidal and Cytotoxic Activities of the Essential Oils from two Bauhinia Species

Leôncio M. de Sousa, Jarbas L. de Carvalho, Roberto W. S. Gois, Horlando C. da Silva, Gilvandete M. P. Santiago, Telma L. G. Lemos, Angela M. C. Arriaga, Péricles B. Alves, Iara L. de Matos, Gardênia C. G. Militão, Paulo B. N. da Silva and Teresinha G. da Silva

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60451-970, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil

Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Capitão Francisco Pedro 1210, 60451-970, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil

Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, 49100-000, São Cristovão-SE, Brazil

Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Nelson Chaves S/N, 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil

Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Nelson Chaves S/N, 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil

Abstract: The essential oils obtained by hydrodistilation from leaves of Bauhinia pulchella Benth. and Bauhinia ungulata L. were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major components of B. pulchella essential oil were identified as a -pinene (23.9%), caryophyllene oxide (22.4%) and b -pinene (12.2%), while in the B. ungulata essential oil were caryophyllene oxide (23.0%), (E)-caryophyllene (14.5%) and a -copaene (7.2%). The essential oils were subsequently evaluated for their larvicidal and cytotoxic activities. Larval bioassay against Aedes aegypti of B. pulchella and B. ungulata essential oils showed LC 50 values of 105.9 ± 1.5 and 75.1 ± 2.8 m g/mL, respectively. The essential oils were evaluated against four human cancer cells lines: HL-60 (pro-myelocytic leukemia), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H292 (lung carcinoma) and HEP-2 ( cervical adenocarcinoma), showing IC 50 values in the range of 9.9 to 53.1 m g/mL. This is the first report on chemical composition of essential from leaves of B. pulchella and on larvicidal and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils.

Keywords: Bauhinia pulchella ; Bauhinia ungulata; Aedes aegypti; cytotoxic activity .