Chemical composition and biological activity of Centella asiatica essential oil from Nepal

Abstract

The essential oil from the aerial parts of Centella asiatica, collected from Kirtipur, Nepal, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil was dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, including (E)-β-farnesene (26.5%), α-humulene (20.9%), and (E)-caryophyllene (13.3%). The essential oil was screened for in-vitro cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus niger. The C. asiatica essential oil showed no antimicrobial activity and was only marginally cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells.