Chemical constituents of Ocotea paranaensis (Lauraceae) essential oil and their antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial properties

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the branches of Ocotea paranaensis was studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-seven compounds, comprising 94.82% of the total components, were identified. The oil showed relatively high concentration of sesquiterpenes (62.96%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (33.33%), and diterpene (3.70%). Regarding the major compounds, Z-nerolidol (19.16%), germacrene D (12.92%) and alpha-bulnesene (8.47%) could be highlighted, which corresponded to 40.55% of the substances that were found. The essential oil from Ocotea paranaensis has phosphomolybdenum reducing action and is moderately toxic to the Artemia salina (LC50 = 147.91 mu g/mL). It showed haemolytic potential and moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus, (minimum inhibitory concentration MIC = 250 mu g/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 500 mu g/mL). No satisfactory cytotoxicity results were observed in lineage H460 and HeLa.