Résumé
Background: The aim of this work was to study the cytotoxicity of leaves essential oils and their identified constituents of Aeollanthus heliotropioides and Ocimum urticaefolium (Lamiaceae) from Cameroon. Materials and Methods: Leaves essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). The cytotoxic activity was evaluated in Human breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal epithelial (ARPE-19) cells line by MTT assay. Results: The essential oils of Aeollanthus heliotropioides and Ocimum urticaefolium leaves were found to most constitute by sesquiterpene components with 52.8% and 67.3% respectively than monoterpenes. The major constituents of the essential oil of Aeollanthus heliotropioides are linalool (43.4%), (E)-(Z)-farnesene (27.7%), (δ- Cadinol (13.0%), germacrene D (3.7%), α-caryophyllene (3.1%). Eugenol (26%), (Z)--ocimene(5.3%), α- caryophyllene (5%), germacrene D (4.4%), δ-muurolène (17%) , spathulenol (14.2%), δ-Cadinol (11.3%), (E)-Z-farnesol (5.4%) and 6E)-2Z-farnesol (3.6%) are the main major components of Ocimum urticaefolium essential oil. The cytoxicity of Aeollanthus heliotropioides and Ocimum urticaefolium oils indicate that the oils have a good cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) growth with IC50 values of 0. 620μL/mL and 0.422 μL/mL. The highest selectivity was obtained with the essential oil Aeollanthus heliotropioides (1.72) which was more cytotoxic against MCF-7 than against normal cell line (ARPE-19) with IC50 values of 0.620 μL/mL and 1.07 μL/mL, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests for the first time the ability of Aeollanthus heliotropioides and Ocimum urticaefolium essential oils to inhibit human tumor cell growth. They could be considered as a potent source of alternate lead compounds against breast cancer.