Mexican Oregano Infusion and Carvacrol Modify Cytokine Concentration, Induce Apoptosis, and Regulate Antioxidant...

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer (BC), particularly aggressive subtypes such as triple-negative TNBC, remains a significant clinical challenge due to treatment resistance and therapeutic toxicity. This study evaluated the antitumor potential, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory effect of Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) infusion (MoI) and its bioactive constituent, carvacrol (Cv), in diverse BC cell lines (MCF-7, HCC-1954, and MDA-MB-231).

Cellular responses were assessed by quantifying apoptosis, profiling cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10), and analyzing the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD2, GPX1) and their enzymatic activities.

Cv exhibited potent, subtype-independent pro-apoptotic activity, while MoI demonstrated significant efficacy with attenuated cytotoxicity in non-tumoral HaCaT cells. Both treatments mediated complex modification of cytokine signaling, characterized by reduction in the extracellular concentration of tumor-promoting IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, an effect most pronounced in the highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cell line. Transcriptional and functional analyses further revealed that these agents alter the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby promoting pro-oxidant environments conducive to cancer cell death.

These findings indicate that MoI and Cv exert antitumor effects through coordinated pathways of apoptosis induction, extracellular cytokine levels and redox disruption. Consequently, MoI emerges as a promising candidate for complementary therapeutic strategies in BC management, particularly for aggressive subtypes, owing to its impact on inflammatory networks and redox vulnerabilities. At the same time, Cv serves as a compelling lead compound for targeted oncological research.