Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Potential of the Essential Oil var and Its Major Components Myrcene and -Pinene.

The antioxidant, cytoprotective, and wound-healing potential of the essential oil from the resin of var. (mastic oil) was evaluated, along with that of its major components, myrcene and -pinene. Antioxidant potential was monitored as: (i) direct antioxidant activity as assessed by 2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and ABTS assays; (ii) DNA damage protection activity; and (iii) cytoprotective activity as assessed via induction of transcription of genes related to the antioxidant response in human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT).