Objectives Natural products commonly used in traditional medicine, such as
essential oils (EOs), are attractive sources for the development of molecules
with anti-proliferative activities for future treatment of human cancers, e.g.,
prostate and cervical cancer. In this study, the chemical composition of the EO
from Cymbopogon nardus was characterized, as well as its antioxidativeproperties
and anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities on LNCaP cells derived
from prostate cancer. Methods The chemical composition of the EO was determined
by GC/FID and GC/MS analyses. The antioxidative properties were assessed using
DPPH radical scavenging assay and ABTS+• radical cation decolorization assay,
and the anti-inflammatory capacity was determined by the inhibition of the
lipoxygenase activity. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay.
Results Collectively, our data show that the major constituents of C. nardus EO
are citronellal (33.06 %), geraniol (28.40 %), nerol (10.94 %), elemol (5.25 %)
and delta-elemene (4.09 %). C. nardus EO shows modest antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory activity compared to the standard galic acid. C. nardus EO
exhibits the best antiproliferative activity on the prostate cancer cell line
LNCaP with an IC50 of 58.0 ± 7.9 μg/mL, acting through the induction of the cell
cycle arrest. Conclusions This study has determined that C. nardus EO
efficiently triggers cytotoxicity and pens a new field of investigation
regarding the putative use of this EO in vivo.

Cymbopogon nardus; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; antiproliferative; essential oil; gas chromatography.