title: Oxidative stress and apoptosis induction in human thyroid carcinoma cells exposed to the essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus aerial parts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Essential oils from the aerial parts (leaves, twigs and berries) of Pistacia lentiscus (PLEO) have been well characterized for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; however, poor information exists on their potential anticancer activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Increasing concentrations of PLEO (0.01-0.1% v/v, 80-800 μg/ml) were administered to a wide variety of cultured cancer cells from breast, cervix, colon, liver, lung, prostate, and thyroid carcinomas. Fibroblasts were also included as healthy control cells. Cell viability was monitored by WST-8 assay up to 72 hours after PLEO administration. The intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the induction of apoptosis, and the enhancement of chemotherapeutic drug cytotoxicity by PLEO were further investigated in the most responsive cancer cell line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dose-dependent reduction of tumor cell viability was observed upon PLEO exposure; while no cytotoxic effect was revealed in healthy fibroblasts. FTC-133 thyroid cancer cells were found to be the most sensitive cells to PLEO treatment; accordingly, an intracellular accumulation of ROS and an activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways were evidenced in FTC-133 cells after PLEO administration. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the antineoplastic drugs cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and etoposide was enhanced in PLEO-exposed FTC-133 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking into account its mode of action, PLEO might be considered as a promising source of natural antitumor agents which might have therapeutic potential in integrated oncology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catalani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Serafina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Battistelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedetti
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009822:Oils, Volatile