In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Evaluation of Mentha spicata L. and Matricaria chamomilla L. Essential Oils

Abstract

Spearmint, Mentha spicata L., and the German chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla L., preparations are used against inflammatory conditions traditionally and in modern medicinal applications. This present study aimed to evaluate pharma-grade essential oils for their in vitro anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects using COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX enzyme assays, as well as their apoptosis potential through the caspase pathway. In addition, the (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay was applied to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects using HEK293/A549, MCF7, and PC3 cell lines. Major components of M. spicata essential oil were confirmed both by gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detector (FID) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS) as 72.8% carvone, 12.6% limonene, 2.2% 1,8-cineole, 1.3% myrcene, and 1% trans-dihydrocarvone. The major components of M. chamomilla essential oil were also confirmed as 47.9% α-bisabolol oxide A, 16.8% α-bisabolol, 13.8%, (Z)-β-farnesene, 5.8% α-bisabolol oxide, and 4.7% α-bisabolene oxide A. The IC50 values for M. chamomilla essential oil on A549, MCF7, PC3, and HEK293 cells were calculated as 208.54 ± 1.39, 315.44 ± 1.17, 197.52 ± 0.98, and 638.79 ± 1.15 μg/mL, respectively, whereas the IC50 values for M. spicata essential oil on A549, MCF7, and PC3 cells were 672.13 ± 2.57, 708.27 ± 2.05, and 206.49 ± 1.48 μg/mL, respectively. For M. spicata essential oil, no cytotoxic effects on healthy HEK293 cells were observed at the tested concentrations. The essential oils increased the apoptotic activity, where all results were statistically significant. According to the anti-inflammatory evaluation, both M. chamomilla and M. spicata oils showed selective COX-2 inhibitions, where the SI values were calculated as 0.30 and 0.67, respectively. Overall, both M. spicata and M. chamomilla essential oils showed selective inhibition on the COX-2 enzyme and apoptosis against the selected cancer cell lines for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, with this specific dual mode of action. The initial results encourage further detailed in vivo experimental evaluations.

Microbial Transformation of Hesperidin and Biological Evaluation

“…As previously, inhibition of lipoxygenase (1.13.11.12, type I−B, 7.9 Unit/mg) enzyme activity was measured spectrophotometrically on a special 96-well quartz plate (Baylac and Racine, 2003;Biltekin et al, 2023). 50,51 For 10 min at 25 °C, 1.94 mL of potassium phosphate buffer (100 mM; pH: 8.80), 40 mL of test compounds, and 20 mL of lipoxygenase enzyme were incubated. Each well received 300 μL of this mixture.…”

Enzyme-Based Antiviral Potential of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. Essential Oil and Its Major Component (E)-Cinnamaldehyde

“…Relative percentages of the volatile components were calculated by using the FID chromatograms. This process was performed by the GC/MS MassFinder3 Library, and in-house Baser Library of Essential Oil Constituents by analyzing either authentic samples or the relative retention index (RRI) of n -alkanes …”

Recent Advances in Chemistry and Antioxidant/Anticancer Biology of Monoterpene and Meroterpenoid Natural Product

“…Myrcene ( 4 , Figure 3 ) has been shown to display anticancer bioactivities when used as a mixture in the essential oils from Mentha spicata , Matricaria chamomilla , and Citrus pseudolimon [ 47 , 48 ]. The IC 50 values of the essential oil from Matricaria chamomilla were demonstrated to be between 200 and 320 μg/mL for cancer cell lines A549, MCF7, and PC3.…”

“…The IC 50 values of the essential oil from Matricaria chamomilla were demonstrated to be between 200 and 320 μg/mL for cancer cell lines A549, MCF7, and PC3. Meanwhile the IC 50 values for the Mentha spicata essential oils were 672, 708, and 206 μg/mL for cell lines A549, MCF7, and PC3 respectively [ 47 ].…”