In vitro activity of the essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and eugenol in peroxynitrite-induced oxidative processes

The essential oil obtained from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae) and three of its main components, eugenol, (E)-cinnamaldehyde, and linalool (representing 82.5% of the total composition), were tested in two in vitro models of peroxynitrite-induced nitration and lipid peroxidation. The essential oil and eugenol showed very powerful activities, decreasing 3-nitrotyrosine formation with IC50 values of 18.4,mu g/mL and 46.7,mu M, respectively (reference compound, ascorbic acid, 71.3,mu g/mL and 405.0,mu M) and also inhibiting the peroxynitrite-induced lipid peroxidation showing an IC50 of 2.0,mu g/mL and 13.1 mu M, respectively, against 59.0,mu g/mL (235.5,mu M) of the reference compound Trolox. On the contrary, (E)-cinnamaldehyde and linalool were completely inactive.