Monitoring ZEO apoptotic potential in 2D and 3D cell cultures and associated spectroscopic evidence on mode of interaction with DNA

Sci Rep. 2017 May 31;7(1):2553. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02633-z.

Abstract

Recognizing new anticancer compounds to improve Breast cancer treatment seems crucial. Essential oil of Zataria Multiflora (ZEO) is a secondary metabolite with some biological properties, yet underlying cellular and molecular anticancer properties of ZEO is unclear. GC/MS analysis revealed that carvacrol is the major ingredient of the essential oil. ZEO increasingly suppressed viability in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T47D Breast cancer cells while nontoxic to L929 normal cells in monolayer cell cultures (2D), whereas MDA-MB-231 multicellular spheroids (3D) were more resistant to inhibition. ZEO significantly induced cell apoptosis confirmed by fluorescent staining, flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation in MDA-MB-231 2D and 3D cell cultures. ZEO increased ROS generation and subsequent loss of ΔΨm, caspase 3 activation and DNA damage which consequently caused G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest in a dose- and time-dependent manner in 2D. S phase arrest occurred in cell spheroids therefore ZEO possible DNA interaction with gDNA was investigated and revealed ZEO binds DNA via intercalation. Altogether, these data corroborate anticancer properties of ZEO and suggest that cell culture format (2D monolayer vs. 3D spheroid) plays a critical role in drug response and provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying ZEO cytotoxicity effect on Breast cancer cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cymenes
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lamiaceae / chemistry*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Monoterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / agonists
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / cytology
  • Spheroids, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Cymenes
  • Monoterpenes
  • Plant Extracts
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • carvacrol
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3