Chemical Composition, Biological Activities and Molecular Docking Study of  Euphorbia pulcherrima Leaf Essential Oil from Dak Lak, Vietnam

Dao Cuong To; Truong Nhan Ngu; Thi Bich Hanh Dam; Thuy Mi Pham Lam; Hoai An Thi Nguyen; Phi Hung Nguyen; Phuong Dai Nguyen Nguyen; Ngoc Thao Vy Trinh; Thi Thuy Do; Thi Thu Le Vu

doi:10.14233/ajchem.2026.36683

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 10 (2026): Vol 38, Issue 10, 2026

Issue Published : 9 October 2026

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Chemical Composition, Biological Activities and Molecular Docking Study of Euphorbia pulcherrima Leaf Essential Oil from Dak Lak, Vietnam

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.36683

Dao Cuong To

Phenikaa University Nano Institute, Phenikaa School of Engineering, Phenikaa University, Nguyen Trac, Duong Noi, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2954-8702

Truong Nhan Ngu

Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan, Ea Kao, Dak Lak 630000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4387-685X

Thi Bich Hanh Dam

Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan, Ea Kao, Dak Lak 630000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3536-4800

Thuy Mi Pham Lam

University of Science and Education, The University of Danang, 459 Ton Duc Thang, Lien Chieu, Danang City 550000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1362-8620

Hoai An Thi Nguyen

School of Medicine and Pharmacy, The University of Danang, Hoa Quy, Ngu Hanh Son, Danang City 550000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3223-0422

Phi Hung Nguyen

Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Hanoi 122100, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6678-4253

Phuong Dai Nguyen Nguyen

Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan, Ea Kao, Dak Lak 630000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2522-9488

Ngoc Thao Vy Trinh

Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan, Ea Kao, Dak Lak 630000, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5629-7456

Thi Thuy Do

Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Hanoi 122100, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8772-4061

Thi Thu Le Vu

Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Quyet Thang, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6049-889X

Corresponding Author(s) : Dao Cuong To

cuong.todao@phenikaa-uni.edu.vn

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 10 (2026): Vol 38, Issue 10, 2026
Article Published : 9 October 2026

Abstract

Euphorbia pulcherrima is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, although information on the chemical composition and bioactivities of its essential oil remains limited. In this study, the chemical constituents, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of E. pulcherrima leaf essential oil from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, were investigated together with molecular docking and in silico ADMET analyses. GC-MS analysis identified 24 compounds representing 93.40% of the total oil, with menthone, longifolene, bornyl acetate, α-terpinolene, aromadendrene and β-bourbonene as the major constituents. The essential oil showed moderate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, with IC₅₀ values of 40.98 and 41.88 mg/mL, respectively, and weak ACE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 836.75 µg/mL). Docking analysis identified favourable interactions between several terpenoids and ACE- and inflammation-related targets, providing a preliminary basis for further study of the essential oil and its constituents without establishing individual compound activity.

Keywords

Euphorbia pulcherrima Essential oil GC-MS Antioxidant activity Anti-inflammatory activity ACE inhibition

(1)

To, D. C.; Ngu, T. N.; Dam, T. B. H.; Lam, T. M. P.; Nguyen, H. A. T.; Nguyen, P. H.; Nguyen, P. D. N.; Trinh, N. T. V.; Do, T. T.; Vu, T. T. L. Chemical Composition, Biological Activities and Molecular Docking Study of Euphorbia Pulcherrima Leaf Essential Oil from Dak Lak, Vietnam. ajc 2026, 38, 2683-2695.

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D.E. Hartley, in ed.: R.A. Larson, Poinsettias; In: Introduction to Floriculture, Academic Press: San Diego, edn. 2, pp. 306-330 (1992).

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H.B. Sharif, M.D. Mukhtar, Y. Mustapha and A.O. Lawal, Adv. Pharm., 2015, 485469 (2015); https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/485469

N. Thakur, H.R. Chitme, Y.C. Tripathi and V.K. Varshney, J. Essent. Oil-Bear. Plants, 27, 1537 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2024.2443685

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C. Bogdan, Nat. Immunol., 2, 907 (2001); https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1001-907

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W. Dhifi, S. Bellili, S. Jazi, N. Bahloul and W. Mnif, Medicines, 3, 25 (2016); https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines3040025

Y. Huang, H. Ebrahimi, E. Berselli, M.C. Foti and R. Amorati, Antioxidants, 15, 37 (2026); https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15010037

N.T.M. Le, D.X. Cuong, P.V. Thinh, T.N. Minh, T.D. Manh, T.H. Duong, T.T.L. Minh and V.T.T. Oanh, Molecules, 26, 941 (2021); https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040941

Author biographies is not available.