HPLC–PDA–ESI–MS/MS profiling and chemopreventive potential of Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC

► Simple, sensitive and rapid HPLC–PDA–ESI/MS/MS method was developed. ► Identification of the composition of E. gomphocephala DC. ► The antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the different fractions were determined. ► The EtOAc fraction possessed potential antitumour-promoting properties. ► Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC. has potential chemopreventive properties. An HPLC–PDA–ESI/MS/MS method was developed to identify the phytoconstituents of the EtOAc fraction of Eucalyptus gomphocephala DC. The antioxidant effect of the EtOAc fraction together with its sub-fractions was determined in vitro. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on different cell lines. The EtOAc fraction exhibited strong antioxidant activity, reduced the viability of all cell lines and was more active on MCF-7 and HepG-2 cell lines. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of the sub-fractions and the isolated compounds were tested on MCF-7, HepG-2. The EtOAc fraction possessed potential antitumour promoting properties. It inhibited the stimulated NO (20%), 5-LOX (48.0%) and COX-2 (49.7%) respectively (at concentration of 20μg/ml). This study suggests that this fraction is a source of different antioxidant and cytotoxic compounds with potential chemopreventive properties that might prevent different stages of the carcinogenesis process.