Evaluation of the cytotoxic activities of the essential oil from Pistacia atlantica Desf. oleoresin on human gastric cancer cell lines.

Abstract

Numerous herbal products have been the subject of research regarding their potential role in cancer prevention or adjuvant therapy. Pistacia atlantica and its main phytochemicals have garnered significant attention for their potential anti-cancer effects. The study aimed to assess the growth inhibitory effects of P. atlantica essential oil (PAEO) on MKN-45 and AGS cells. This study quantified the volatile compounds in PAEO using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequently, MKN-45 and AGS cells were treated with varying concentrations of PAEO (5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625%, 0.3125%, 0.156%, 0.0781%, 0.0391%, 0.0195%) for 24 h. Cell viability was evaluated through the MTT assay. The impact of PAEO on gene expression was investigated by quantifying the mRNA levels of Bax and Bcl2 in the various experimental groups using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Additionally, flow cytometry was utilized to evaluate apoptosis in the treated cells. The analysis of PAEO revealed that α-pinene was the predominant monoterpene, constituting 87.9% of the oil composition. The cytotoxic effects of PAEO were evaluated, and it was found that the oil significantly reduced the viability of MKN-45 and AGS cells. The IC50 for MKN-45 cells was determined to be 1.94 × 10-3% after 24 h of treatment, while for AGS cells the IC50 was 2.8 × 10-3% after 24 h. Additionally, the research revealed that PAEO triggered a notable rise in apoptotic cells in both AGS and MKN-45 cell lines. Moreover, at the molecular level, the findings indicated an increase in Bax expression and a decrease in Bcl2 mRNA expression, providing further evidence of the induction of apoptosis in both MKN-45 and AGS cell lines following PAEO treatment. The findings of this study offer evidence supporting the cytotoxic effects of PAEO on gastric cancer cell lines by promoting apoptosis. The findings suggest that PAEO may offer potential as a therapeutic candidate in managing and treating gastric cancer.

• Authors: Fatemeh Saeedi, Mohammad Salehi, Mohammad Javad Kamali, Mahsa Aghajani Mir, Sohrab Kazemi, Fatemeh Shirafkan, Ebrahim Zabihi Neyshaburi, Reihaneh Moeeni, Narjes Gorji, Zahra Memariani
• Journal: Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) (Med Oncol) Vol. 41 Issue 6 Pg. 148 (May 11 2024) ISSN: 1559-131X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 38733486 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Chemical References

• Oils, Volatile
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Topics

• Humans
• Oils, Volatile (pharmacology)
• Pistacia (chemistry)
• Stomach Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism, genetics)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (metabolism, genetics)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry