Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Screening of the Essential Oil from Phania matricarioides (Spreng.) Griseb.

Essential oils (EOs) have gained increasing attention due to their pharmacological effectiveness, and they also constitute some of the most popular natural products. In this study, we present the chemical characterization of the EO from Phania matricarioides and the in vitro activity/selectivity against a wide panel of bacteria, fungi and parasitic protozoa. Forty-five compounds were identified in the studied EO, of which lavandulyl acetate (40.1%) and thymyl isobutyrate (13.9%) were the major components. The EO did not inhibit bacterial or fungal growth at the maximum concentration tested (64 µg/mL), although it displayed activity on all evaluated protozoa (IC50 values ranging from 2.2 to 56.6 µg/mL). In parallel, the EO demonstrated a noteworthy cytotoxic activity against peritoneal macrophages (CC50 values of 28.0 µg/mL). The most sensitive microorganism was Trypanosoma cruzi, which had a superior activity (IC50 = 2.2 µg/mL) and selectivity (SI = 13) in respect to other parasitic protozoa and the reference drug (p < 0.05). Further in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the potential use of this EO and the main compounds as antitrypanosomal agents. To our knowledge, this is the first report of chemical characterization and antimicrobial assessment of the EO from P. matricarioides.


Introduction
Indiscriminate and irrational use of antimicrobial agents has created an unprecedented challenge for human civilization due to the microbes' development of antimicrobial resistance. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are used by 60-80% of developing countries, as they are one of the most prevalent sources of medicine worldwide. In recent years, research on plant-based drugs has increased tremendously, and there is some hope seen in certain medicinal plants that have immense potential to combat bacterial, fungal, protozoal and viral diseases with safety. Such plant metabolites include quinones, alkaloids, lectins, polypeptides, flavones, flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and tannins [1,2]. In particular, other plant-derived natural products, such as essential oils (EOs), have experienced an upsurge in attention due to their efficacious bioactivities [3], and represent one of the most popular natural product classes due to their applications in dermatology, cosmetics and aromatherapy [4]. There have been numerous publications regarding the utility of EOs as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents. In recent years, numerous papers reporting antimicrobial properties of EOs extracted from higher plants have been published, including antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activities [5].
Recently, we have focused on Phania matricarioides (Spreng.) Griseb. (Figure 1) (Asteraceae or Compositae family), which has been traditionally used for digestive conditions (stomach pain, bad digestion and diarrhea) and dermatological lesions [6,7]. P. matricarioides is included in a very large and widespread family of flowering plants that grow for ornamental purposes [8], but the family also represents a certain economic importance due to the provision of products such as cooking oils, lettuce, sunflower seeds, artichokes, sweetening agents, coffee substitutes and herbal teas [9]. In addition, many species possess medicinal properties, including antioxidant [10], antiparasitic [11], anticancer [12] and hepatoprotective [13]. In particular, the antidiarrheal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of extracts have been demonstrated and correlated with some active common phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, lactonic compounds, triterpenes or steroids, terpenes and organic acids [6,14,15]. However, as far as we know, the EO from P. matricarioides has not been chemically characterized, and its biological properties have not been scientifically demonstrated.
In this study, taking into account the antimicrobial potential of EOs, we have chemically characterized of the EO from P. matricarioides and screened for potential activity/selectivity against bacteria, fungi and parasitic protozoa of medical relevance. plant-based drugs has increased tremendously, and there is some hope seen in certain medicinal plants that have immense potential to combat bacterial, fungal, protozoal and viral diseases with safety. Such plant metabolites include quinones, alkaloids, lectins, polypeptides, flavones, flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and tannins [1,2]. In particular, other plant-derived natural products, such as essential oils (EOs), have experienced an upsurge in attention due to their efficacious bioactivities [3], and represent one of the most popular natural product classes due to their applications in dermatology, cosmetics and aromatherapy [4]. There have been numerous publications regarding the utility of EOs as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral agents. In recent years, numerous papers reporting antimicrobial properties of EOs extracted from higher plants have been published, including antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activities [5].
Recently, we have focused on Phania matricarioides (Spreng.) Griseb. (Figure 1) (Asteraceae or Compositae family), which has been traditionally used for digestive conditions (stomach pain, bad digestion and diarrhea) and dermatological lesions [6,7]. P. matricarioides is included in a very large and widespread family of flowering plants that grow for ornamental purposes [8], but the family also represents a certain economic importance due to the provision of products such as cooking oils, lettuce, sunflower seeds, artichokes, sweetening agents, coffee substitutes and herbal teas [9]. In addition, many species possess medicinal properties, including antioxidant [10], antiparasitic [11], anticancer [12] and hepatoprotective [13]. In particular, the antidiarrheal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of extracts have been demonstrated and correlated with some active common phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, lactonic compounds, triterpenes or steroids, terpenes and organic acids [6,14,15]. However, as far as we know, the EO from P. matricarioides has not been chemically characterized, and its biological properties have not been scientifically demonstrated.
In this study, taking into account the antimicrobial potential of EOs, we have chemically characterized of the EO from P. matricarioides and screened for potential activity/selectivity against bacteria, fungi and parasitic protozoa of medical relevance.

Results
The obtained volatile oil from P. matricarioides was colorless and aromatic, and yielded 0.1 ± 0.002%. The results of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) are summarized in Table 1, and show that the chemical composition of the EO was made up of 48 compounds, of which 45 components were identified, representing 98.9% of the total oil. The predominant components were lavandulyl acetate (40.1%), followed by thymyl isobutyrate (13.9%) ( Table 1 and Figure 2).
The EO did not exhibit bacterial or fungal growth inhibition at the maximum concentration tested (64 μg/mL). However, as demonstrated in Table 2, the EO displayed activity on all evaluated protozoa with varying degrees of inhibition (IC50 values: 2.2-56.6 μg/mL). The most sensitive

Results
The obtained volatile oil from P. matricarioides was colorless and aromatic, and yielded 0.1 ± 0.002%. The results of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) are summarized in Table 1, and show that the chemical composition of the EO was made up of 48 compounds, of which 45 components were identified, representing 98.9% of the total oil. The predominant components were lavandulyl acetate (40.1%), followed by thymyl isobutyrate (13.9%) ( Table 1 and Figure 2).
The EO did not exhibit bacterial or fungal growth inhibition at the maximum concentration tested (64 µg/mL). However, as demonstrated in Table 2, the EO displayed activity on all evaluated protozoa with varying degrees of inhibition (IC 50 values: 2.2-56.6 µg/mL). The most sensitive microorganism was Trypanosoma cruzi, which demonstrated a superior susceptibility to the EO (p < 0.05) than the other parasitic protozoa, or the reference drug.   In parallel, the EO demonstrated a noteworthy cytotoxic activity against peritoneal macrophages, as shown in Table 2. The most selective parasite was also T. cruzi, with a SI greater than 10. Table 2. Antiprotozoal activity and cytotoxic effects of essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation from P. matricarioides collected in Bauta municipality, Artemisa, Cuba.  In parallel, the EO demonstrated a noteworthy cytotoxic activity against peritoneal macrophages, as shown in Table 2. The most selective parasite was also T. cruzi, with a SI greater than 10.

Discussion
Innovative approaches for effective proof-of-concept research and the development of new types of plant-derived products effective against recently emerging problems related to human microbial diseases are needed. In this regard, research on antimicrobial agents from natural sources has grown in importance in order to discover novel, effective and less expensive drugs, and to combat microbial resistance. Consequently, in our continuing search for valuable and promising natural products from Cuban medicinal plants against infectious diseases, this study was carried out to analyze the chemical composition of the EO from P. matricarioides, and was extended to investigate the antimicrobial activity of this product against a wide panel of microorganisms.
Cabrera et al. reported that the yield of EO from fresh aerial parts of P. matricarioides range between 0.06% and 0.41% under different conditions of treatment of the plant material (fresh plant material, drying in the shade and drying in a stove) [6]. Thus, in the present investigation, the yield fell into the referred range. Although the oil yield was not high, it played an important role in the biological activities presented by the plant, justifying in some way its traditional dermatological and digestive uses.
In the studied EO, a high percentage of compounds, around 99%, were identified. The chemical composition profile included a broad spectrum of components, such as monoterpene derivatives. The main compound of EO was lavandulyl acetate (acetate ester of lavandulol, a known component of lavender oil), which has been also identified in EOs from Heracleum sprengelianum Wight & Arn. [16], Lavandula angustifolia Mill. [17] and Pycnocycla nodflora Decne. ex Boiss. [18]. The biological potentiality of this compound was demonstrated through the larvicidal activity against three important mosquito vectors [16]. Another major compound was thymyl isobutyrate, a phenolic monoterpene derivative (ester of thymol) with recognized antimicrobial activity [19].
EOs improve the shelf-life of packaged products and control microbial growth [20], which has provided evidence that EOs are natural antimicrobials isolated from plants [21]. There have been no previous studies on the antimicrobial activity of P. matricarioides, and our results showed that the tested bacteria and fungi strains were not sensitive to the studied oil at the concentrations tested.
There have been several studies reported in the literature, supporting the suggestion that certain EOs from various plant species can demonstrate antiparasitic activity [22][23][24][25]. As has been demonstrated in the present study, the EO from P. matricarioides inhibited the growth of all tested parasites, with IC 50 ranging from 2 to 57 µg/mL. In comparison with reference drugs, the studied EO showed higher IC 50 values with statistical differences (p < 0.05), except in the case of T. cruzi, which displayed higher sensitivity (p < 0.05) to the EO than to benznidazole. Other Cuban EOs, have also demonstrated a wide spectrum of antiprotozoal activity, including Chenopodium ambrosioides L. [22] and Piper aduncum L. [23]. Nevertheless, as biological properties of the main identified compounds in the studied EO are still scarce, further studies of pure compounds, other components and/or synergistic effects remain to be analyzed to explain the observed activities.
Meanwhile, cytotoxic effects on macrophages from mice were determined and used to calculate the selectivity index (SI). The EO showed low SI values in general, except in the case of T. cruzi. It is known that one of most important criteria to select "hits" during in vitro screening is to demonstrate a SI superior to 10 [26], which was only accomplished by the T. cruzi parasite (SI = 13).
T. cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, is a complex zoonosis transmitted by more than 100 species of triatomine insects (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) and sustained by more than 70 genera of mammalian hosts, including humans [27]. Infection is endemic from Northern Mexico to Argentina, and is considered the parasitic infection with the greatest socioeconomic burden in Latin America, although human migrations have earned it global importance [28,29]. Clinical development of the disease has two successive phases: acute phase (typically asymptomatic or with variable symptoms that may last four to eight weeks) and chronic phase (presented in the majority of patients as chronic infection, which can develop irreversible lesions of the heart, esophagus or colon, ultimately leading to death of the patient) [27,30]. Although many vector control programs have been implemented, T. cruzi has not been eradicated, and the development of an effective human vaccine against Chagas disease has been slow [31]. Currently, the only two anti-trypanosomal drugs available for Chagas disease-benznidazole and nifurtimox-are far from ideal. Both require prolonged treatment, display a wide range of side effects and, although being effective in the acute phase, have a limited efficacy in the chronic stage [32,33]. In this sense, one approach to the development process of new antitrypanosomal drugs has been the search of natural products [34]. In particular, several EOs from plants, such as Alpinia speciosa K. Schum [25], Lippia alba N.E.Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson [35], Piper tuberculatum Jacq. [24] and Protium ovatum Engl. [36], have demonstrated efficacy against T. cruzi.
Against the other tested protozoal parasites, higher IC 50 values were obtained (7.5-56.6 µg/mL). However, in this case it should be taken into account that EOs are mixtures of different components, and the main antiprotozoal principle could be in a lower concentration. As a consequence for these parasites, lower SI values (≤ 4) were also observed, which limit the potential application of the studied EO by a systemic administration route, although the application by a topical route could be feasible as well as the use of carriers such as nanoparticles [37]. In particular, the current search for new alternatives against P. falciparum, L. amazonensis and L. infantum (causal agents of malaria, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, respectively) constitute an interesting approach to target multiparasite infections with the same drugs in the control programs of endemic countries [38].

Plant Material
The aerial parts of P. matricarioides were collected early in the morning in March 2013 in Bauta municipality (22 •

Essential Oil Extraction and Chemical Characterization
To obtain the EO from P. matricarioides, fresh vegetal material was hydrodistilled using a Clevenger type apparatus for 5 h. For the biological assays, the EO was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 20 mg/mL.
Chemical characterization of the EO was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometric detector (GC-MS) using Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 Ultra (Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Columbia, MD, USA) equipment, which was operated in the electron impact (EI) mode (electron energy = 70 eV), with a scan range = 40-400 atomic mass units, scan rate = 3.0 scans/s and GC-MS solution software. The GC column was a ZB-5-fused silica capillary column with a (5% phenyl)-polymethylsiloxane stationary phase and a film thickness of 0.25 µm, a length of 30 m and an internal diameter of 0.25 mm (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA). The carrier gas was helium with a column head pressure of 552 kPa and a flow rate of 1.37 mL/min. The injector temperature was 250 • C and the ion source temperature was 200 • C. The GC oven temperature program was programmed for a 50 • C initial temperature, with temperature increased at a rate of 2 • C/min to 260 • C. A 5% w/v solution of the sample in CH 2 Cl 2 was prepared, and 0.1 µL was injected with a splitting mode (30:1). Identification of the oil components was based on their retention indices (RI) as determined in reference to a homologous series of n alkanes using the method of Kovats [39], and by comparison of their mass spectral fragmentation patterns with those reported in the literature [40], and stored in our in-house Sat-Set library [41].

Microorganisms
An integrated panel of microbial agents in a 96-well plate was adopted from Cos et al. [42],  was added with different EO concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 64 µg/mL. After 17 h of incubation at 37 • C, bacterial or fungal viability was determined fluorimetrically by the addition of resazurin (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) for 30 min at 37 • C to bacteria cultures, or 4 h at 37 • C to fungi [43]. Finally, fluorescence was measured using a Tecan GENios Multifunction Fluorimeter (Tecan Group, Maennedorf, Switzerland) at 530 nm excitation and emission of 590 nm. At the same time, reference drugs were tested, including chloramphenicol (Sigma-Aldrich, Bornem, Belgium) for E. coli, erythromycin (Sigma-Aldrich, Bornem, Belgium) for S. aureus and miconazole (Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Beerse, Belgium) for C. albicans.

Antiprotozoal Assays
Antiplasmodial activity was determined with parasites cultured in human erythrocytes A+ in RPMI-1640 culture medium, supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) Albumax at 37 • C under an atmosphere of 3% O 2 , 4% CO 2 and 93% N 2 [44]. Suspensions of infected human red blood cells (1% parasitemia, 2% hematocrit) were added to each well with the same test concentrations of EO. The plate was incubated for 72 h under the same conditions, and then the plate was frozen at −20 • C. Parasite multiplication was measured after mixing 20 µL of the hemolyzed parasite suspension with 100 µL of Malstat (Flow Incorporated, USA) reagent in a new plate, and incubated for 15 min at room temperature. After that, 20 µL of nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT; Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 2 mg/mL/phenazine ethosulfate (PES; Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) at 0.1 mg/mL solution was added. The plate was incubated again for 2 h at room temperature in the dark and the absorbance was read at 655 nm in a Biorad 3550-UV microplate reader. Chloroquine, donated by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases from the World Health Organization (WHO-TDR), was also included as a reference drug.
Antitrypanosomal activity was performed using trypomastigotes of T. brucei, cultured in Hirumi-9 medium supplemented with 10% inactivated fetal calf serum (FCSi) at 37 • C and 5% CO 2 [45]. Assays were performed by adding 1.5 × 10 4 trypomastigotes/well to the EO at the mentioned concentrations. After 72 h of incubation at the same conditions, parasite growth was assessed fluorimetrically by adding resazurin for 24 h at 37 • C. In parallel, activity on amastigotes of T. cruzi was also evaluated. In this case, the EO at tested concentrations was added to 4 × 10 4 amastigotes in 4 × 10 3 MRC-5 cells maintained in minimal essential medium (MEM; Life Technologies, USA) supplemented with 20 mM L-glutamine, 16.5 mM sodium bicarbonate and 5% of FCSi. After an additional incubation for seven days at the previous conditions, parasite growth was assessed by adding the β-galactosidase substrate chlorophenol red β-D-galactopyranoside (Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and then incubating for 4 h at 37 • C. The absorbance was then read at 540 nm [46]. As reference drugs, suramine for T. brucei and benznidazol for T. cruzi were used, which were kindly donated by WHO-TDR.
Antileishmanial activities against the intracellular amastigote form of L. infantum and L. amazonensis were performed. For L. infantum, 3 × 10 4 PMM were infected with amastigotes obtained from an infected hamster at a density of 15 parasites per cell, and the plate was incubated for 48 h at 37 • C and 5% CO 2 . Pre-diluted concentrations of EO were added and the plates were then incubated under the same conditions over a 120-h period. In the experiment with L. amazonensis, PMM were plated at 10 6 /mL in a 24-well Lab-Tek (Costar, USA) and incubated at 37 • C and 5% CO 2 for 2 h. Non-adherent cells were removed and stationary-phase promastigotes were added at a 4:1 parasite/macrophage ratio for 4 h. Cells were washed to remove free parasites, EO was added, four serial dilutions were carried out to test from 12.5 to 100 µg/mL and the plates were further incubated at same conditions for 48 h [47]. In both cases, after the incubation period with the products, the supernatant was discarded and cells were fixed with methanol, stained with 10% Giemsa and microscopically examined (Motic, Japan) under immersion oil. The total parasite burden was determined according to the number of infected macrophages and the number of amastigotes inside the macrophages. Miltefosine (donated by WHO-TDR) and amphotericin B (Imefa, La Habana, Cuba) were used as reference drugs, respectively.

Cytotoxicity Assay
To assess the cytotoxic effects of the EO, isolated PMM were seeded at 3 × 10 5 cells/mL and incubated at 37 • C and 5% CO 2 [48]. After 2 h, the medium was removed and 98 µL of fresh medium with 10% FCSi and antibiotics were added, with an additional 48 µL in the first wells and 2 µL of pre-diluted EO, ranging from 12.5 to 200 µg/mL. The plate was incubated at same conditions for 48 h, and viability was measured with 15 µL of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT; SIGMA, St. Louis, MO, USA) solutions. After 4 h, formazan crystals were dissolved with 100 µL of DMSO and the optical density was measured at 560 nm and at 630 nm as a reference wavelength using a spectrophotometer (Molecular Devices, Silicon Valley, California, USA).

Statistical Analysis
In each case, percentage growth inhibition for each concentration of EO was calculated compared to the untreated controls. The median inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) for antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal assay were determined, while median cytotoxic concentrations (CC 50 ) were obtained in the cytotoxicity experiment. In each case, the values were calculated from lineal dose-response curves, and results are expressed as the means of three experiments. To compare the IC 50 and CC 50 values between EO and reference drugs, statistical differences were determined using Mann-Whitney with Statistica for Windows program (Release 4.5, StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA, 1993), considering statistical differences as p < 0.05. Finally, the selectivity index (SI) was calculated for each evaluated product, which was determined by CC 50 /IC 50 .

Conclusions
To our knowledge this work is the first investigation related to the EO from P. matricarioides, and confirms the importance of chemical, biological and cytotoxicity assessments of EOs. The results demonstrate the wide spectrum of antiparasitic activities, in particular against T. cruzi, with a potential margin of safety based on the high SI obtained from comparison with mammalian cells. Further in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the potential use of this EO and its main compounds as antitrypanosomal agents.