Beta-Caryophyllene Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Proliferation by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis
Background:
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths among women with
lesser prognostics. Current treatment options are chemotherapy with platinum and taxane based chemotherapy.
β-Caryophyllene (BCP) an essential oil found in many plant species is known to possess an anti-proliferative
effect.
Objective:
We aimed to investigate the antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and apoptotic role of BCP against ovarian
cancer cells PA-1 and OAW 42.
Methods:
The antiproliferative effect of BCP was determined by MTT assay and cell viability by trypan blue
exclusion assay. Cell cycle and live/dead cell analyses were performed by flow cytometry to determine cell
cycle distribution and apoptosis, respectively.
Results:
Results of MTT assay proved the anti-proliferative effect of BCP in a dose and time-dependent manner
in ovarian cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that BCP induced S Phase arrest in OAW 42 cells. Results of
apoptosis assay confirmed the apoptosis inducing potential of BCP in ovarian cancer cells. The apoptosis is
mediated by caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage.
Conclusion:
The results of our present study prove that BCP exerts its action partly by inducing cell cycle arrest
and apoptosis in ovarian cancer. We conclude that BCP is a potential anti-cancer agent.
