Perfil químico e potencial biotecnológico antioxidante e anticancerígeno de nanoemulsões (o/a) dos óleos essenciais de Citrus limon (L.) Burn, Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf e Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

Abstract

This study characterizes the chemical profile, antioxidant activity, and in vitro anticancer properties of essential oils (EOs) from Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus limon, along with their nanoemulsions. Leaves of C. citratus and C. sinensis, along with C. limon peels, were collected in Maranhão state, Brazil, with EOs extracted by hydrodistillation. Nanoemulsions (NEOs) were prepared using phase inversion methodology. Chemical composition of EOs and NEOs was determined by GC-MS-FID analysis. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through radical scavenging assays (ABTS, DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide). In vitro anticancer activity was assessed against human cancer cell lines from colon, lung, liver, cervical, prostate, oral, and neuroblastoma tissues. Extraction yields were 0.92% for C. citratus, 1.55% for C. sinensis, and 1.01% for C. limon EOs. GC-MS analysis identified geranial and neral as major components in C. citratus, while limonene predominated in C. sinensis (85.28%) and C. limon (75.12%). The NEOs exhibited droplet sizes of 57.00 71.66 nm, zeta potentials ranging from -21.15 to -20.11 mV, polydispersity indices of 0.21 0.28, and pH values between 4.12-4.77. Both EOs and NEOs demonstrated potent antioxidant activity (IC50: 6.23-84.58 μg/mL). Significant cytotoxicity was observed against all tested cell lines, with particularly strong effects against 502713 (colon; IC50=1.00 μg/mL), IMR-32 (neuroblastoma; 1.10 μg/mL), Hep-2 (liver; 1.20 μg/mL), and SiHa (cervical; 1.60 μg/mL). These findings suggest that EOs and NEOs from C. citratus, C. sinensis, and C. limon show promise as potential candidates for innovative therapeutic applications.

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