CHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL NANOEMULSION ZINGIBER OFFICINALE

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale essential oil and evaluate the anticancer activity of its nanoemulsion against different tumor cell lines. Methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Nanoemulsions were prepared by the phase inversion method using Tween 20 as surfactant. Anticancer activity was assessed against a panel of twelve human cancer cell lines using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Results: GC-MS analysis identified 45 compounds, representing 98.06% of the total oil composition, with α-zingiberene (27.49%), β-sesquiphellandrene (13.16%), ar-curcumene (11.21%), α-farnesene (6.91%), and β-bisabolene (5.58%) as the major constituents. The nanoemulsion exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against all tested cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.50 to 90.00 mg/L. The most pronounced effects were observed against neuroblastoma (IMR-32, IC₅₀ = 5.50 mg/L), colon cancer (502713, IC₅₀ = 7.00 mg/L), Hep-2 (IC₅₀ = 7.00 mg/L), and cervical cancer SiHa cells (IC₅₀ = 10.00 mg/L). Conclusion: Z. officinale essential oil nanoemulsion presents a promising anticancer profile, particularly through multi-targeted mechanisms that effectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. These findings position the nanoemulsion as a potential candidate for the development of plant-based therapeutic agents, offering a natural alternative for cancer treatment and chemoprevention.