Artemisia sieberi Besser essential oil inhibits the growth and migration of breast cancer cells via induction of S-phase arrest, caspase-independent cell death and downregulation of ERK. (10th August 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Break, Mohammed Khaled Bin; Hussein, Weiam; Huwaimel, Bader; Alafnan, Ahmed; Almansour, Khaled; Alafnan, Dalal; Alshammari, Abdullah Salem; Alanazi, Ibrahim Awadh; Alshammari, Dera Salah; Alanzi, Fares Saud; Alsnaideh, Faisal Fahad; Almuhaysin, Abduldaem; Alanazi, Yasir Salem; Algharbi, Saleh; AlHarbi, Sami
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 312(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-08-10
• Subjects: Artemisia sieberi -- Essential oil -- Anticancer -- Cell-cycle -- Apoptosis -- ERK; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Artemisia sieberi Besser is a medicinal herb that has been traditionally used across the Middle East for the treatment of cancer. Further pharmacological studies on its extracts revealed that they possess cytotoxic activity against certain cancer cells, however, there were no studies conducted on the anticancer potential of Artemisia sieberi essential oil (ASEO). Aim of the study: To evaluate the anticancer potential of ASEO, elucidate the oil's mode of action for the first time and investigate its chemical composition. Materials and methods: Artemisia sieberi was collected from Hail, Saudi Arabia, and its essential oil was obtained via hydrodistillation. The oil's activity against HCT116, HepG2, A549 and MCF-7 cells was assessed using SRB assay, while its anti-metastatic potential was assessed via a migration assay. Cell-cycle analysis and apoptosis assay were conducted via flow cytometry, while protein expression levels were investigated using Western blotting. The oil's chemical constituents were identified using GCMS. Results: ASEO exerted its highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 with an IC50 value of 38.7 μg/ml. Further studies showed that the oil inhibited MCF-7 cells' migration, induced S-phase arrest and apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed no change in the expression level of caspase-3 after treatment, indicating the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in MCF-7. Treatment of MCF-7 with the oil resulted in downregulation of the protein expression levels of total ERK and its downstream target, LC3, indicating that any potential activation of the ERK signalling pathway during the cancer cells' growth would be inhibited. Finally, GCMS analysis identified the oil's major components as cis -crysanthenyl acetate (48.56%), davanone (10.28%), 1, 8-cineole (6.81%) and caryophyllene diepoxide (5.34%), whereby it is suggested that these compounds might be responsible for the oil's bioactivity. Conclusion: ASEO possessed in vitro anticancer activity and modulated the ERK signalling pathway. This is the first study to explore the anticancer potential of ASEO in detail and reflects the significance of investigating essential oils from medicinal plants that have been traditionally used against cancer. This work might pave the way for further in vivo studies that could result in developing the oil into a natural effective anticancer treatment. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Artemisia sieberi essential oil's anticancer potential was studied for the first time. The oil showed highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 & inhibited its migration. The oil induced S-phase arrest & caspase-independent cell death against MCF-7. The oil downregulated ERK and LC3 expression without affecting the Akt pathway. GCMS identified cis -crysanthenyl acetate as the oil's major component.