<i>Aegle marvels</i> (L.) Correa Leaf Essential Oil and Its Phytoconstituents as an Anticancer and Anti-<i>Streptococcus mutans</i> Agent

• Main Authors: Alhussain H. Aodah (Author), Mohamed F. Balaha (Author), Talha Jawaid (Author), Mohammed Moizuddin Khan (Author), Mohammad Javed Ansari (Author), Aftab Alam (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antibiotics12050835; 2079-6382
• Keywords: <i>Aegle marmelos</i>; essential oil; anticancer; antioxidant; anti-<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>; molecular docking; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antibiotics, Vol 12, Iss 5, p 835 (2023)

<i>Aegle mamelons</i> (<i>A. marmelos</i>) or Indian Bael leaves possess anti-cancerous and antibacterial properties and are used in the traditional medicine system for the treatment of oral infections. In the present study, the essential oil of the leaves of <i>A. marmelos</i> was explored for its anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-cariogenic properties. The hydro-distilled oil of <i>A. marmelos</i> leaves was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Monoterpene limonene (63.71%) was found to have the highest percentage after trans-2-Hydroxy-1,8-cineole and p-Menth-2,8-dien-1-ol. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay was used to investigate the anticancer activity of the extracted oil against human oral epidermal carcinoma (KB), and the results showed significantly higher (**** <i>p</i> < 0.0001) anticancer activity (45.89%) in the doxorubicin (47.87%) when compared to the normal control. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated using methods of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)). The results showed a significant (*** <i>p</i> < 0.001) percentage of inhibition of DPPH-induced free radical (70.02 ± 1.6%) and ABTS-induced free radical (70.7 ± 1.32%) at 100 µg/mL with IC₅₀, 72.51 and 67.33 µg/mL, respectively, comparatively lower than standard compound ascorbic acid. The results of the molecular docking study of the significant compound limonene with the receptors tyrosinase and tyrosine kinase 2 supported the in vitro antioxidant potential. The anti-cariogenic activity was evaluated against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> (<i>S. mutans)</i>. Results showed a significant minimum inhibitor concentration of 0.25 mg/mL and the killing time was achieved at 3 to 6 h. The molecular-docking study showed that limonene inhibits the surface receptors of the <i>S. mutans</i> c-terminal domain and CviR protein. The study found that <i>A. marmelos</i> leaves have potential anti-carcinoma, antioxidant, and anti-cariogenic effects on human oral epidermal health, making them a valuable natural therapeutic agent for managing oral cancer and infections.