This study aims to provide GC-FID and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil of dried aerial parts of Ecballium elaterium L. grown in Jordan and examining its cytotoxicity capacity. Methods: Essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using Clevenge
r apparatus. MTT assay method was used to investigate the plant's in vitro antiproliferative activity against MCF-7, Caco-2 and Panc-1 cancer cell lines in addition to normal fibroblast cells. Results: E. elaterium hydrodistilled oil yielded thirty one components, accounting for 76.3% of the total oil content. High contents of nonterpenoidal compounds, sesquiterpenes, and monoterpene characterized the volatile fractions with hinesol (17.2%), the principal compound, benzaldehyde (12.3%) and E-β-ionone (7.8%) as the major constituents. E. elaterium ethanolic extract showed good activity against MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells (IC50 values=29.67 μg/mL and 17.64 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, all extracts were safe on normal human cells. In conclusion: Evaluation of E. elaterium volatile oil has been conducted for the first time in Jordan; also various extracts were tested for the first time against Panc-1 cells. Furthermore, based on the obtained results, ethanol extract of E. elaterium may be advocated as candidate for breast and colorectal cancers management.
