Analysis of the essential oil of magnolia and its effect on antioxidant enzyme activity, sCD40L and phosphorylate-activate Akt protein levels in gastric cancer mice

The chemical composition of essential oil from magnolia collected in Suzhou city, China, was studied using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Fifty-four volatile compounds were identified in the essential oil, with eucalyptol (21.55%), beta-Pinene(11.07%), D-Limonene (8.93%), 1R-alpha-Pinene (7.86%), Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, 1,7,7-trimethyl-, (1R)-(6.46%), Cyclohexene, 4-methylene-1-(1-methylethyl)- (5.30%), 1,4-Cyclohexadiene, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)- (5.10%), camphene (4.72%), being the major chemical constituents. In an in vivo approach, the protective effect of the essential oil against oxidative stress in gastric cancer (GC) mice was also investigated in terms of superoxide dismutase, CAT, and glutathione peroxidase activities. Our results indicate that the essential oil has an effective capability to enhance serum antioxidant enzyme activities and sCD40L, and decrease phosphorylate-activate Akt protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in gastric cencer mice. Overall, essential oil from magnolia appears to be an effective antioxidant and is quite suitable for further biological evaluation.