Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net The Natural Products Journal, 2014, 4, 63-69 63 Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Essential Oils of Cumin and Coriander Fruits from Egypt Rasha S. Hanafi 1 , Mansour Sobeh 1,2 , Mohamed L. Ashour 2,3 , Mahmoud Z. El-Readi 2,4 , Samar Y. Desoukey 5 , Raimund Niess 1 , Ashraf H. Abadi 1 and Michael Wink 2, * 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, 11835 Cairo, Egypt; 2 Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; 3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, 11566 Cairo, Egypt; 4 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University (Assiut), 71524 Assiut, Egypt; 5 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, 61519 Minia, Egypt Abstract: The chemical compositions of essential oils from cumin and coriander fruits were investigated using GLC and GLC/MS. Forty six compounds were identified in both oils. The major constituents of cumin oil were identified as γ- terpinene (22.7%), β-pinene (19.2%), cuminaldehyde (18.0%), p-cymene (11.5%), whereas linalool (70.43%) is the most abundant component in coriander oil. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of the essential oils were assessed. Cumin oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (IC 50 values, 2.37 mg/ml for DPPH • assay and 27.7 µg/ml for OH • assay) as compared to the coriander oil. Both oils inhibited the PGE 2 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated HepG-2 cells. They also inhibited soybean lipoxygenase (5-LOX). Cumin oil (20 µg/ml) caused a 22.44% reduction in PGE 2 level after treatment of the cells. IC 50 values for lipoxygenase inhibition were 35.8 and 38.6 µg/ml for cumin and coriander oils, respectively. Cumin oil exhibited substantial antiproliferative activity against HepG-2 with an IC 50 value of 31.4 µg/ml, whereas coriander was less active (IC 50 120.4 µg/ml). Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant, chemical composition, coriander, cumin, cytotoxicity, GLC, GLC/MS. INTRODUCTION Many plants produce mono- and sesquiterpenes for defense against herbivores and microbes. They also serve to attract pollinating and fruit dispersing animals [1]. These compounds are volatile and can easily be isolated as essential oil either by solvent extraction or hydrodistillation. Essential oils have been used in traditional medicine and as flavoring agents and spices for centuries. Essential oils consist of a complex mixture of structurally diverse compounds with broad biological activities. They can be used safely to treat several health disorders in addition are utilized in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries [2]. Most essential oils of the Apiaceae show potential antimicrobial, antiviral, antispasmodic, antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, dyspeptic, carminative, analgesic, anti- apoptotic and antiproliferative activity [3]. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) are widely cultivated in the Mediterranean and in Asia [4]. The chemical composition of both oils had been explored previously [5, 6]. However, the oils show some variations which might be attributed to the difference in the geographical localities or *Address correspondence to this author at the Institut für Pharmazie und Molekulare Biotechnologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Tel: +49 6221 54 4880; Fax: +49 6221 54 4884; E-mail: wink@uni-hd.de chemical varieties [7]. Cuminaldehyde presents the major component of cumin fruit oil, while linalool is the main component of coriander oil [5, 8]. Coriander oil, also known as the spice of happiness in Egypt due to its putative aphrodisiac effect, is widely used as a spice; it also has antifungal, antibacterial, spasmolytic and carminative properties [9, 10], whereas cumin oil exhibits potent antifungal, weak analgesic, antispasmodic, carminative properties and has been used to treat cold and dyspepsia [11]. In this study and in continuation of our previous studies in the search for the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils, we have investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of cumin and coriander fruit oils. Furthermore, the chemical compositions of both oils were determined by high- resolution capillary gas-chromatography and GLC-MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Material The fruits of Cuminum cyminum and Coriandrum sativum (Apiaceae) were kindly provided by Kato aromatic Company in Egypt in summer 2010. The identity of the plants was confirmed by one of the authors (M.L.A). Voucher specimens of the plant material were deposited at 2210-3163/14 $58.00+.00 © 2014 Bentham Science Publishers