Planta Med 2008; 74 - PA177
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1084175

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and K562 cell replication inhibition by Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris essential oil

C Bicchi 1, M Matteodo 1, P Rubiolo 1, C Sanna 2, E Tramontano 3, F Esposito 3, A Piano 3, L Zinzula 3, M Ballero 2
  • 1Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco University of Torino, via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125, Italy
  • 2Co.S.Me.Se. viale Sant'Ignazio 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
  • 3Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy

Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris (Apiaceae) is a plant widespread all over the Mediterranean area [1]. Within a project aiming to find new agents inhibiting the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the essential oil of R. segetum collected in Sardinia (Italy) has been assayed on the two enzymatic associated activities of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RDDP) and the ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities.

In biochemical assays, the extract inhibited the HIV-1 RT RDDP activity in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 0.094µg/mL, while it was inactive on the RNase H associated activity. Furthermore, the oil was cytotoxic on the K562 cell replication showing a CC50 value of 0.6µg/mL.

The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial part showed that the main components were alpha-phellandrene (50.8%), alpha-terpinolene (22.0%) beta-phellandrene (9,7%), dill apiole (6.6%) and, hence, the two observed biological effects, on HIV-1 RT and cell replication, may be due to different extract components.

References: 1 Tutin T.G. et al. (1993) Flora europaea (2° edition) Cambridge University Press.