Purified Essential Oil from Ocimum sanctum Linn. Triggers the Apoptotic Mechanism in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Thamilvaani Manaharan1, Ramaraj Thirugnanasampandan2, Rajarajeswaran Jayakumar3
1Centre of Research for Computational Sciences and Informatics in Biology, Bio-industry, Environment, Agriculture and Healthcare (CRYSTAL), 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Background:
Essential oil of Ocimum sanctum Linn. exhibited various pharmacological activities including antifungal and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we analyzed the anticancer and apoptosis mechanisms of Ocimum sanctum essential oil (OSEO).
Objective:
To trigger the apoptosis mechanism in human breast cancer cells using OSEO.
Materials And Methods:
OSEO was extracted using hydrodistillation of the leaves. Cell proliferation was determined using different concentrations of OSEO. Apoptosis studies were carried out in human breast cancer cells using propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst staining.
Results:
We found that OSEO inhibited proliferation (IC50 = 170 μg/ml) of Michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7) cells in a dose-dependent manner. The OSEO also induced apoptosis as evidenced by the increasing number of PI-stained apoptotic nucleic of MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that treatment with OSEO (50-500 μg/ml) increased the apoptotic cells population (16-84%) dose dependently compared to the control. OSEO has the ability to up-regulate the apoptotic genes p53 and Bid and as well as elevates the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate that OSEO has the ability as proapoptotic inducer and it could be developed as an anticancer agent.
Summary:
OSEO inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 170 μg/mLOSEO at 500 μg/mL increased the population of apoptotic cells by 84%OSEO up-regulated the expression of apoptotic genes and as well increased the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Abbreviations used: BAX: BAX BCL2-associated X protein; BCL2: B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2; BID: BH3 Interacting domain death agonist; OSEO: Ocimum sanctum essential oil; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium; MCF-7: Michigan cancer foundation-7;
Rt-Pcr:
Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Insights
Ocimum sanctum essential oil (OSEO) effectively inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis. OSEO shows potential as a proapoptotic inducer for anticancer drug development.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cancer Biology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Ocimum sanctum Linn. essential oil (OSEO) possesses known antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
- This study investigates the anticancer and apoptosis-inducing mechanisms of OSEO in human breast cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of OSEO in triggering apoptosis in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7).
Main Methods:
- OSEO was extracted via hydrodistillation.
- Cell proliferation was assessed using varying OSEO concentrations.
- Apoptosis was analyzed using propidium iodide and Hoechst staining in MCF-7 cells.
Main Results:
- OSEO demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation with an IC50 of 170 μg/ml.
- Apoptosis induction was confirmed by increased PI-stained apoptotic nuclei and a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic cell population (16-84%) via flow cytometry.
- OSEO upregulated pro-apoptotic genes (p53, Bid) and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.
Conclusions:
- OSEO acts as a proapoptotic inducer.
- OSEO exhibits potential for development as an anticancer agent.
Related Concept Videos
01:31The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
01:30Apoptosis
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway