Satureja hortensis L. Methanolic Extract and Essential Oil Exhibit Antitumor Activity.

Many members of the genusSaturejahave aromatic and medicinal characteristics.Satureja hortensisL. (Lamiaceae) is an Iranian species ofSaturejawhich is well known in Iranian traditional medicine as a remedy for various ailments. In this study, antitumor activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract ofS. hortensiswas investigated. For antitumor activity tests, a potato disc tumor inhibition method was exploited. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract was also studied by a broth microdilution method and MIC values were determined. The methanolic extract exhibited antitumor activity in a concentration dependent manner but the tumor inhibitory effect was significant (> 20 %) at 1 mg/ml and higher. The IC value of the extract was 1.8 mg/ml. The essential oil exhibited tumor growth inhibition (100 %) at dilutions of 0.001 and 0.0001 (v/v). These results demonstrated thatS. hortensishas beneficial effects by inhibition of tumor growth on potato discs, which is likely due to its terpenes and phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]