Citral is a new inducer of caspase-3 in tumor cell lines.
Citral, 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-al, a key component of the lemon-scented essential oils extracted from several herbal plants such as lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), melissa (Melissa officinalis), verbena (Verbena officinalis) is used as a food additive and as a fragrance in cosmetics. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer potential of citral and its mode of action. Concentrations of 44.5 muM, comparable to the concentration of citral in a cup of tea prepared from 1 g of lemon grass, induced apoptosis in several hematopoietic cancer cell lines. Apoptosis was accompanied by DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 catalytic activity induction. Citral activity (22.25 microM) was compared to a reference compound like staurosporine (0.7 microM), in respect to DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzymatic activity. The apoptotic effect of citral depended on the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde group.
Dudai
Nativ
N
Hazeva Research and Development Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Weinstein
Yacob
Y
Krup
Margalit
M
Rabinski
Titiana
T
Ofir
Rivka
R
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D031743:Cymbopogon; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D031334:Melissa; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D032412:Verbena
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010938:Plant Oils; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C007076:citral