Cytotoxic activity of root, stem, and flower essential oils from Ferula tenuisecta Korovin

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This study aims to investigate the phytochemical composition and cytotoxic activities of essential oils derived from Ferula tenuisecta Korovin, given its traditional medicinal uses and potential as a source of bioactive compounds. The hydrodistillation method was used to extract essential oils from the root, stem, and flower of F. tenuisecta. The yields were calculated as 1.7 mL of essential oil in the roots, 0.03 mL in the flowers and 0.01 mL in the stems. The chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS, identifying 41 compounds in flower oil accounting for 92.8% of the total essential oil, 40 in stem oil accounting for 83.6% of the total essential oil, and 35 in root oil accounting for 98.5% of the total essential oil. In flower essential oil, camphor (14.8%) and α-pinene (11.5%) were the predominant compounds. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (32.8%), oxygenated monoterpenes (30.4%), and monoterpenes (19.6%) were the dominant chemical groups. In stem essential oil, osthole (13.9%) and 4-oxo-β-ionol (12.4%) were the main compounds. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (38.9%), coumarin (13.9%), and aromatics (11.0%) were the dominant chemical groups. In root essential oil, fenchone (25.3%), α-pinene (18.5%), and fenchol (12.0%) were the predominant compounds. Cytotoxic activity was determined by MTT assay. This is the first comprehensive study analyzing the chemical composition and cytotoxic properties of essential oils derived from three parts of F. tenuisecta.