By means of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method, 21 volatile components have been identified in the essential oils of fruits and the leaves of star anise (Illicium verum Hook. f., Illiciaceae) in Vietnam, in which, essential oil of star anise fruits has 18 components, essential oil of star anise leaves has 16 components, with content have been determined more than 98.60% total compounds of essential oil. The major compound was identified as trans- anethole with 87.05% in leaves essential oil and 90.12% in fruits essential oil. The in vitro anti-cancer activity of star anise essential oil was evaluated by cytotoxicity assay. The results showed that the essential oil obtained from leaves of star anise inhibited the grow of liver cancer cell (IC50 = 10.22 µg/ml) and colon cancer cell (IC50 = 6.26 µg/ml). The essential oil obtained from fruits of star anise inhibited the grow of liver cancer cell and colon cancer cell with the IC50 values of 5.93 and 3.20 µg/ml, respectively.
Keyword
Illicium verum, star anise, essential oils, anticancer, cytotoxicity assay, GC/MS.
