Chemical Investigation of a Biologically Active Schinus molle L. Leaf Extract

Garzoli S, Laghezza Masci V, Ovidi E, Turchetti G, Zago D, Tiezzi A (2019). Chemical investigation of a biologically active Schinus molle L. leaf extract. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL METHODS IN CHEMISTRY, p. 1-6, ISSN: 2090-8873, doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8391263

The pepper tree Schinus molle L. is an evergreen ornamental plant belonging to the Anacardiaceae family, native to South
America and widespread throughout the world. It has biological activities and is used in folk medicine. This paper aims to
contribute to a deeper knowledge of its chemical composition and biological properties. S. molle leaf extracts were obtained
by sequential extraction with solvents of different polarities and subsequently tested on the HL-60 human leukaemia cell
line to define a possible cytotoxic activity. Among the investigated extracts, the petroleum ether extract revealed a high
cytotoxic activity, and its chemical composition was further investigated. By a silica column chromatography, eight
fractions were obtained, and their compositions were determined by GC-MS analysis. Compounds and relative abundance
differed widely among the fractions; sesquiterpenes resulted the main component and alcoholic sesquiterpenes the
most abundant.