title: Anticancer, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Thymol in vitro Brain Tumor Cell Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymol (THY), which is a monocyclic monoterpene, found in oil of thyme various other kinds of plants. Until today, although different biological properties of THY have been indicated, its neurological toxicity has never been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, in vitro antiproliferative (by 3-(4,5 dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenlytetrazolium bromide (MTT) test), genotoxic (by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)) and oxidative effects (by total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) analysis) of THY (0-400 mg/L) were assessed on cultured primary rat neurons (CPRNs) and N2a neuroblastoma cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained data from MTT analysis revealed that THY (only at 400 mg/L) led to significant (p<0.05) decreases of the cell viability in cultured primary rat neurons. And, THY was found to inhibit cell growth in N2a cells at concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/L. Again, DNA damage rates were statistically indifferent (p>0.05) in both treated cell type as compared to control group. The present results also showed that 10, 25 and 50 mg/L of THY application into the cell cultures supported antioxidant capacity in primary rat neurons but not in N2a cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a conclusion, these results confirm that THY may have antiproliferative potential against brain tumor cells involving oxidative alteration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elanur
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Erzurum Technical University, TR-25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turkez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, TR-25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sener
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, TR-25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fazıl
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hacımuftuoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013943:Thymol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D003603:Cytotoxins; D013943:Thymol
keywords: Antiproliferative; MTT assay; N2a neuroblastoma; comet assay; thymol; total antioxidant capacity