Ozone Driven Modulation of Camphor Oil – Chemical Composition, Anti-Yeast Potential, and Anti-Ovarian Cancer Mechanistic Exploration

Abstract

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to examine the chemical constituents of crude camphor oil and its ozonized derivatives and to assess their in vitro anticancer and anti-yeast properties. In crude camphor oil, GC-MS profiling revealed 21 compounds from 15 different chemical classes, whereas ozonized oil included 22 compounds from fifteen various classes. Increase in the contents of dotriacontane and 2,2-dideutero octadecanal in the ozonized oil indicated chemical changes brought about by ozonation. Antifungal tests revealed that ozonation significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) values while increasing the inhibition zones against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata (23 ± 0.6 mm, 26 ± 0.4 mm, and 25 ± 0.2 mm, respectively) when compared to crude oil. Both oils showed cytotoxic effects on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. However, ozonized camphor oil was more potent than crude oil with IC₅₀= 183.18 ± 2.29 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 152.04 ± 0.4 µg/mL, respectively. Following treatment with the IC₅₀ of ozonized oil, cell-cycle analysis showed a notable decrease in S-phase cells and a notable increase in G2/M accumulation, suggesting inhibition of DNA production and triggering of G2/M arrest.