Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Pistacia terebinthus Linn. Fruits Essential Oil

Pistacia terebinthus Linn. (Anacardiaceae) is an important species of Pistacia commonly found in Kurdistan region of Iraq. P. terebinthus is traditionally used for the treatment of several human ailments including asthma, stomach ache, sunstroke, and rheumatism. The plant is known for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities. The present study aims to characterize the chemical composition of P. terebinthus fruits essential oil by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and, determination of anticancer activity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using A549 (Human lung cancer) cell lines. The GC/MS analysis of P. terebinthus essential oil identified seventy-two chemical constituents. Linoleic acid (21.86%), isopropyl palmitate (13.47%), ethyl palmitate (11.78%), ethyl stearate (7.97%), hexadecenoic acid (6.62%), 11-eicosenoic acid (6.00%), cis-11,14-sicosadienoic acid (4.86%), β-phellandrene (1.70%), limonene piperitone (1.60%), α-humulene (1.21%), ethyl nonadecanoate (1.43%), and pyrogallol (1.16%) were found as major compounds in P. terebinthus essential oil. P. terebinthus produces time (24 h) and dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation of human lung cancer (A549) cell lines. The cell viability of A549 cell lines after 24 hrs treatment with P. terebinthus ranging from 99.81±4.01 to 16.13±2.42% for concentration range of 0.5-500 μg/mL, respectively, with IC value of 123.8±3.41 μg/mL. The bioactive phytochemicals have been proven as potential anticancer agents, the possible cytotoxic activity of P. terebinthus could be due to presence of these essential oil phytochemicals. The present study outcomes on P. terebinthus essential oil expands knowledge about its chemical constituents and provides scientific basis for its possible use as anticancer remedy.