Chemical composition, anti-toxoplasma, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potentials of Cola gigantea seed oil.

Cola gigantea A. Chev. (Sterculiaceae) is an important medicinal tropical flora.The seed oil of C. gigantea, an underutilized tropical plant was investigated for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Toxoplasma, and cytotoxicity activities as well as the chemical composition.The physicochemical parameters of the seed oil obtained via Soxhlet extraction was determined while the fatty acid and non-fatty acid component were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays (10-50 µg/mL) while the anti-inflammatory property was determined through Cell Membrane Stabilization assay. The anti-parasite and cytotoxicity activity were evaluated (0-1000 µg/mL) using Toxoplasma gondii and mammalian cell line assays, respectively.

The oil had fatty acids which ranged from C-12 to C-23 with linoleic (18:2) and palmitic acids (16:0) being dominant. The oil had 89.41% unsaturated fatty acids with sterolic acid, an uncommon acetylenic fatty acid reported for the first time. Non-fatty acids obtained include cholesterol (2.12%), campesterol (14.12%), stigmasterol (34.07%) and β-sitosterol (49.68%). The oil had a significantly (p < 0.05) low scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (IC₅₀ > 50 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid. In contrast, the oil showed better activity against ABTS radicals (IC₅₀ 44.19 ± 6.27 µg/mL) compared with ascorbic acid or quercetin. Furthermore, the oil showed anti-T. gondii and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HFF cells with selectivity index (IC₅₀/EC₅₀ < 1).

The antioxidant potential of the oil suggests that it may serve as a potential source for various preparations for pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.