Molecular Role of EGFR-MAPK Pathway in Patchouli Alcohol-Induced Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest on A549 CellsIn VitroandIn Vivo

Abstract

Nowadays, chemotherapy is still the main effective treatment for cancer. Herb prescriptions containing Pogostemon cablin Benth (also known as “Guang-Huo-Xiang”) have been widely used in Chinese medicine today. In our research, we found that patchouli alcohol, a compound isolated from the oil of Pogostemon cablin Benth, exerted antitumor ability against human lung cancer A549 cells ability both in vitro and in vivo. MTT assay was used to assess cell viability. Hoechst 33342 staining and TUNEL cover glass staining provided the visual evidence of apoptosis. Caspase activity measurement showed that patchouli alcohol activated caspase 9 and caspase 3 of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Consistently, patchouli alcohol inhibited the xenograft tumor in vivo. Further investigation of the underlying molecular mechanism showed that MAPK and EGFR pathway might contribute to the antitumor effect of patchouli alcohol. Our study proved that patchouli alcohol might be able to serve as a novel antitumor compound in the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

Extract of Pogostemon cablin Possesses Potent Anticancer Activity against Colorectal Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

“…Another component, α -guaiene, was found to be responsible for most of the cytotoxic activity of Bulnesia sarmientoi against A549 and H661 lung cancer cells [ 38 ]. Exposure of HCT116 and SW480 colorectal cancer cells to patchouli alcohol activated p21 expression and inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in A549 lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via the EGFR-MAPK pathway [ 39 , 40 ]. A hexane fraction of guava leaves ( Psidium guajava L.), which contained 3.76% α -patchoulene, inhibited the AKT/mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathway and induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells [ 41 ].…”

The importance of programmed death ligand 1 gene expression, epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and serum epidermal growth factor receptor levels in Turkish non-small cell lung cancer patients

“…Alcohol might have increased the shedding of EGFR molecules into the bloodstream. Lu et al [23] demonstrated that alcohol could be associated with apoptosis and EGFR degradation in lung cancer cell line. However, further studies are warranted to clarify this issue.…”

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Medical Plants from the Lamiaceae Family as Effective Sources of Active Compounds against Human Cancer Cell Lines

“…Patchouli alcohol, isolated from the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin, induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and caspase-9 and caspase-3 production in A549 cells [ 327 ]. The oil may also demonstrate its anticancer activity by dysregulating the MAPK pathway.…”