title: Carvacrol induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 promyelocytic and Jurkat T lymphoma cells.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpenoid on the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 (Human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells) and Jurkat (human T lymphocyte cells) cells. Carvacrol showed a potent cytotoxic effect on both cells with dose-dependent increase in the level of free radical formation as measured by an oxidation sensitive fluorescent dye, 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) levels. The reduction in the level of antioxidants such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.05) was observed in carvacrol-treated cells. The major cytotoxic effect appears to be intervened by the induction of apoptotic cell death as assessed by annexin-V labeling assay using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis showed that Bax expression was increased, whereas Bcl-2 expression was significantly decreased in carvacrol exposed HL-60 cells and Jurkat cells. Further studies revealed that the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential of intact cells was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. Our results found that the potential mechanism of cellular apoptosis induced by carvacrol is mediated by caspase-3 and is associated with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of free radicals, and depletion of the intracellular antioxidant pool.
authors.affiliation: SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, India.
authors.forename: Elango
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bhakkiyalakshmi
authors.affiliation: SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, India.
authors.forename: Natarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suganya
authors.affiliation: SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, India.
authors.forename: Dornadula
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sireesh
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, India.
authors.forename: Kannan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, India.
authors.forename: Sivanesan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saravana Devi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Anna University - BIT Campus, Tiruchirappalli, India.
authors.forename: Palanisamy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajaguru
authors.affiliation: SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur, India. Electronic address: ramkumar.km@res.srmuniv.ac.in.
authors.forename: Kunka Mohanram
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ramkumar
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000081007:Cymenes; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000473:pathology*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; C073316:carvacrol
keywords: Apoptosis; Cancer; Carvacrol; Caspase; HL-60; Jurkat