RESUMO
In the Chilean indigenous culture, the tree Drimys winteri (Winteraceae) Canelo is of great importance and is considered the sacred Mapuche tree. It has antibacterial and disinfectant properties and is used in the treatment of various diseases, such as fevers, ulcers, cancers, and respiratory tract problems. The essential oil obtained from D. winteri, DW_EO, is bioactive, possesses insecticidal and repellent properties against pests, and shows activity toward plant growth regulators. It also has a phytotoxic effect against the growth and germination of weeds. The essential oil obtained from the leaves and bark of Drimys winteri has demonstrated antifungal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties in in vitro and in vivo studies. It also possesses antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects. The essential oil contains monoterpenes such as zafrol, pinenes, and linalool, among others, that contribute to its bioactivity. The DW_EO and bioactive compounds have great potential in various applications in medicine, industrial food, sanitizer, and other areas.
RESUMO
Cryptocarya alba (Peumo; CA) and Laurelia sempervirens (Laurel; LS) are herbs native to the Chilean highlands and have historically been used for medicinal purposes by the Huilliches people. In this work, the essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS to determine their composition. The antioxidant capacity (AC) was evaluated in vitro. The cytotoxicity was determined using cell line cultures both non tumoral and tumoral. The toxicity was determined using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against 52 bacteria using the agar disc diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined. The principal compounds found in C. alba essential oil (CA_EO) were α-terpineol (24.96%) and eucalyptol (21.63%) and were isazafrol (91.9%) in L. sempervirens essential oil (LS_EO). Both EOs showed antioxidant capacity in vitro. Both EO showed antibacterial activity against bacteria using. LS_EO showed more inhibitory effect on these cell lines respect to CA_EO. Both EOs showed toxicity against the nematode C.elegans at 3.12-50 mg/mL. The essential oils of CA and LS have an important bioactive potential in their antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity activity. Both essential oils could possibly be used in the field of natural medicine, natural food preservation, cosmetics, sanitation and plaguicides among others.