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[Anticancer activity of Salvia officinalis essential oil against HNSCC cell line (UMSCC1)]
S Sertel1, T Eichhorn, P K Plinkert
1Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenklinik, Universität Heidelberg, Deutschland. serkan.sertel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Background:
Every year there are several hundred thousand new cases of oral cancer worldwide. Clinical oncology is still challenged by toxicity and side effects of multimodal therapy strategies in which is associated with poor prognosis for patients. There is an urgent necessity to develop novel therapy strategies. As the majority of anticancer drugs are of natural origin, natural products represent a valuable source for the identification and development of novel treatment options for cancer. The aim of this investigation was to study the cytotoxicity of Salvia officinalis L. (sage) essential oil.
Methods:
Salvia officinalis essential oil was gained by aqueous extraction from plant material and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography. The cytotoxicity of the essential oil on the squamous human cell carcinoma cell line of the oral cavity (UMSCC1) was assessed with the XTT assay. These experiments revealed the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of the essential oil. It was used in the microarray-based analysis of gene expression of UMSSC1 cells. The results were submitted to a signaling pathway analysis.
Results:
The main constituents of Salvia officinalis essential oil include the monoterpenes thujone, β-pinene, and 1,8-cineol. Low concentrations of the essential oil increased vitality of the UMSCC1 cells. Beyond the concentration of the IC(50) of 135 µg/ml, sage essential oil reduced UMSSC1 cells viability to a minimum. In the microarray gene expression analysis, genes involved in cancer, cellular growth and proliferation, cell death, cell morphology, cell cycle, gene expression, and DNA repair were the most prominent. The three most significantly regulated pathways by sage were aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, cell cycle (G1/S checkpoint) regulation, and p53 signaling.
Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge, this study suggests for the first time the ability of Salvia officinalis essential oil to inhibit human HNSCC cell growth. The therapeutic potential of sage essential oil might exceed that of its common use in otorhinolaryngology.
Insights
Sage essential oil exhibits cytotoxicity against oral cancer cells, inhibiting growth and affecting key cellular pathways. This natural product shows potential for novel cancer therapies beyond its traditional uses.
Area of Science:
- Phytochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Context:
- Oral cancer presents a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options.
- Multimodal cancer therapies often lead to severe side effects and poor patient prognosis.
- Natural products are a vital source for discovering new anticancer agents.
Purpose:
- To investigate the cytotoxic effects of Salvia officinalis (sage) essential oil on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (UMSCC1).
- To analyze the impact of sage essential oil on gene expression and cellular signaling pathways in oral cancer cells.
Summary:
- Sage essential oil, rich in thujone, β-pinene, and 1,8-cineol, demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against UMSCC1 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 135 µg/ml.
- Gene expression analysis revealed prominent regulation of pathways involved in cancer, cell cycle, and p53 signaling.
- Specifically, aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling and cell cycle (G1/S checkpoint) regulation were notably affected.
Impact:
- This study provides the first evidence of Salvia officinalis essential oil's ability to inhibit human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell growth.
- Sage essential oil presents a promising natural therapeutic agent for oral cancer, potentially offering an alternative or adjunct to conventional treatments.
