IN VITRO, ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE, APOPTOTIC AND ANTI-OXIDATIVE ACTIVITIES OF TERPINEN-4-OL

Abstract

Objectives: The primary bioactive ingredient in tea tree oil is terpinen-4-ola naturally occurring monoterpene with a wide range of biological activity. Our goal is to investigate the anticancer effects of terpinen-4-ol at different concentrations as well as its mode of action on human brain cell cancer lines.

Methods: The study was designed as an in vitro RCT, from March 2020 to April 2022 and carried out at the University of Lahore's IMBB Department in Lahore, Pakistan. Four groups received study treatment: Terpinen-4-ol (experimental group), cisplatin (positive control), negative control (normal cell line), and vehicle control (DMSO). The cryovials were thawed before the cells were cultivated in T75 flasks. Terpinen-4-ol was administered at varying concentrations, Dead Cells Detection (Trypan Blue Assay) and Live Cells Detection (Crystal Violet Assay) were used to quantify its lethal effects via cytotoxicity and cell viability. VEGF angiogenesis factors and enzyme activity were calculated. The ELISA kit was utilized to assess apoptosis and inflammation. Statistical analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with bonferroni comparison within groups was used to analyze the data. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Cancer cell proliferation is significantly inhibited by terpinen-4-ol in a dose-dependent manner. The treated cell lines displayed more apoptotic alterations than the control group. The P-value was less than 0.05.

Conclusion: Terpinen-4-ol dramatically slows down the growth of cancer cell lines. Cell death induction is one potential molecular mechanism for its action.