Cytotoxic Activity of Volatile Compounds in Cymbopogon nardus’ Essential Oils

Abstract

Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, one of which is essential oils that contain a variety of volatile compounds and are useful for humans. Cymbopogon nardus contains volatile compounds that can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. This research aims to explore the antiproliferation activity of C.nardus’ essential oils with different concentrations against breast cancer Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells. Antiproliferation test was carried out with total cells method using trypan blue and cells were calculated using a microscope. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) was performed to identify the volatile compounds. The results showed that the Inhibitory Concentration 50 (IC50) value was 359.6 ppm with an inhibition percent of 44.49% at 170 ppm. Meanwhile, inhibition percent against Vero normal cell was 29.04%, compared to Doxorubicin 35.23%. The dominant volatile compound in C. nardus’ essential oil were Geraniol and Citronellol.