Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal

Volume 28, Issue 11, November 2020, Pages 1474-1480
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal

Original article
Phytochemical constituents and anticancer activities of Tarchonanthus camphoratus essential oils grown in Saudi Arabia

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2020.09.013Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Tarchonanthus Camphoratus L. is traditionally known for its various medicinal purposes. In this study, the T. camphoratus essential oil (TCEO) was isolated via steam distillation, and its chemical constituents were determined using GC–MS. The in vitro antiproliferative effects of TCEO on A549, HepG2, MCF-7 cancer cells, and HUVEC non-tumor cells was investigated using an MTT assay. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to evaluate cell cycle distribution using propidium iodide staining, and cell death mode using Annexin V-FITC/PI assays. The expression of some apoptosis related genes was investigated using qRT-PCR. Major constituents of TCEO included fenchol, borneol, 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol and 3-ethyl-3-methyl. Cell viability test showed that TCEO is highly effective against MCF-7 cells with IC50 12.5 µg/mL. Cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase, and apoptosis mediation were evident in the presence of TCEO. Gene expression analysis of several pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes revealed the initiation of apoptosis in TCEO-MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, our study confirms the antiproliferative activity of the T. camphoratus essential oil.

Keywords

Tarchonanthus camphoratus
GC–MS
Cell cycle
Apoptosis
MCF-7

Abbreviations

TCEO
Tarchonanthus camphoratus essential oil
GC–MS
gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
MTT
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide
PI
Propidium Iodide
MCF-7
Michigan Cancer Foundation-7
qRT-PCR
Quantitative Real-time PCR

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Peer review under responsibility of King Saud University.