Author(s):
Tavares, Ana Cristina 
; Gonçalves, Maria José ; Cruz, Maria Teresa ; Cavaleiro, Carlos ; Lopes, Maria Celeste ; Canhoto, Jorge ; Ribeiro Salgueiro, Ligia
Date: 2010
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/15686
Origin: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Subject(s): Oleos Essenciais; Myrcene; Actividade Antifungica; Actividade Antiflamatória
Description
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Several aromatic plants and their essential oils are known to possess
antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Distichoselinum tenuifolium (Lag.) Garcia Martin
& Silvestre, an Iberian endemism, is traditionally used in the treatment of contact dermatitis and skin
infections. However, the cellular mechanisms through which this plant exerts their beneficial effects are
not known.
Aim of the study: The aims of this study were to examine the chemical composition of the essential oil
isolated from Distichoselinum tenuifolium, and to test the efficacy of the essential oil as an antifungal and
anti-inflammatory potential.
Materials and methods: The oils were investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and gas
chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and the antifungal activity (minimal inhibitory concentrations:
MIC and minimal lethal concentrations: MLC) were evaluated against yeasts, dermatophyte
and Aspergillus strains. Assessment of cell viability was made by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-
diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of Distichoselinum
tenuifolium oil was evaluated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production induced by LPS, in the absence
or in the presence of the oil, in a mouse macrophage cell line.
Results: The oils are predominantly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, being myrcene the main
compound (47.7–84.6%). The oils revealed significant antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans
and dermatophyte strains and significantly inhibited NO production stimulated by LPS in macrophages,
without affecting cell viability at concentrations ranging from 0.64 L/mL to 1.25 L/mL.
Conclusion: These findings add significant information to the pharmacological activity of Distichoselinum
tenuifolium essential oils, specifically to its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, thus justifying
and reinforcing the use of this plant on traditional medicine. Therefore, their beneficial effects and use
in disease prevention, especially those related to fungal infections and inflammation, should be explored
in more depth.
