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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Recreating Melanoma Complexity with Patient-Derived Organoids for Immunotherapy Evaluation
Published on: September 6, 2024
Oregano Phytocomplex Induces Programmed Cell Death in Melanoma Lines via Mitochondria and DNA Damage
Valentina Nanni1, Gabriele Di Marco1, Gianni Sacchetti2
1Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Plant secondary metabolites possess chemopreventive and antineoplastic properties, but the lack of information about their exact mechanism of action in mammalian cells hinders the translation of these compounds in suitable therapies. In light of this, firstly, Origanum vulgare L. hydroalcoholic extract was chemically characterized by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses; then, the molecular bases underlying its antitumor activity on B16-F10 and A375 melanoma cells were investigated. Oregano extract induced oxidative stress and inhibited melanogenesis and tumor cell proliferation, triggering programmed cell death pathways (both apoptosis and necroptosis) through mitochondria and DNA damage. By contrast, oregano extract was safe on healthy tissues, revealing no cytotoxicity and mutagenicity on C2C12 myoblasts, considered as non-tumor proliferating cell model system, and on Salmonella strains, by the Ames test. All these data provide scientific evidence about the potential application of this food plant as an anticancer agent in in vivo studies and clinical trials.
Insights
Oregano extract shows anticancer potential by damaging melanoma cells and inducing programmed cell death. This natural compound is safe for healthy tissues, suggesting its use in future cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Plant secondary metabolites offer chemopreventive and antineoplastic benefits.
- Understanding the precise mechanisms of action in mammalian cells is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To chemically characterize hydroalcoholic extract of Origanum vulgare (oregano).
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of oregano extract's antitumor activity against melanoma cells.
Main Methods:
- Spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses for chemical characterization.
- In vitro studies on B16-F10 and A375 melanoma cells.
- Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity assays (Ames test) on C2C12 myoblasts and Salmonella strains.
Main Results:
- Oregano extract induced oxidative stress, inhibited melanogenesis and tumor cell proliferation.
- Programmed cell death pathways (apoptosis and necroptosis) were triggered via mitochondrial and DNA damage.
- The extract demonstrated safety, showing no cytotoxicity or mutagenicity in healthy cell models and bacterial strains.
Conclusions:
- Origanum vulgare extract exhibits significant antitumor properties against melanoma.
- The extract's mechanism involves inducing oxidative stress and programmed cell death.
- Oregano extract is safe for healthy tissues, supporting its potential for in vivo and clinical cancer studies.
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