Comparative Study on the Volatile Constituents of Polyscias guilfoylei and Polyscias balfouriana Leaves

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The essential oils of the fresh leaves of Polyscias guilfoylei and Polyscias balfouriana (Araliaceae) were separately prepared by hydro distillation and were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/ MS). Forty-two compounds were identified representing 79.17% and 87.77% of the whole volatile constituents of P. balfouriana and P. guilfoylei, respectively. The oxygenated sesquiterpenes represents 10.56% and 20.08% of the whole volatile constituents of P. balfouriana and P. guilfoylei, respectively. β-chamigrene and γ-muurolene were the most abundant compounds in both oil samples. The antimicrobial effect of the samples was evaluated against two gram positive and two-gram negative bacteria in addition to two fungi using agar well diffusion method. P. guilfoylei showed moderate activity against staphylococcus aureus (MIC 313 μg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC 78.13 μg/mL). While P. balfouriana was active against E. coli (MIC 156.3 μg/mL) and Candida albicans (78.13 μg/mL). Cytotoxic activity was assessed for both plants’ samples using MTT assay on Caco-2 cell lines. Results revealed that P. guilfoylei volatile constituents showed cytotoxicity with IC50 value of IC50 70.62 μg/mL while P. balfouriana showed activity with IC50 value of 232.17 μg/mL.