Carvacrol and eugenol differentially stimulate intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and mitogen-activated protein kinases in Jurkat T-cells and monocytic THP-1 cells.
Essential oils are a major active constituent found in many Chinese medicinal herbs. Here, we demonstrate that two components of essential oils, carvacrol and eugenol, dose-dependently trigger intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in Jurkat T-cells and THP-1 monocytic cells. Both carvacrol and eugenol are also capable of stimulating the active phosphorylation of the p38 subgroup of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in both cell types. However, carvacrol selectively activated the ERK subgroup in Jurkat T-cells, and stimulated the JNK subgroup in THP-1 monocytic cells. Eugenol treatment was not linked to ERK or JNK activation in either cell type. EC50 values for the induction of Ca2+ mobilization and MAPK activation were around 10 - 30 microM for both carvacrol and eugenol. Our results suggest that these essential oil components may act as effective agents to modulate the functions of immuno-responsive cells via different intracellular signaling pathways.
Chan
Anthony S
AS
Department of Biochemistry, the Molecular Neuroscience Center, and the Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Pang
Haihong
H
Yip
Eric C H
EC
Tam
Yun K
YK
Wong
Yung H
YH
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081007:Cymenes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005054:Eugenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000081007:Cymenes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D039821:Monoterpenes; D005054:Eugenol; C073316:carvacrol; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium