Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2019-0003

Sesquiterpenes α-humulene and β-caryophyllene oxide enhance the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in colon cancer cells

MARTIN AMBROŽ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
MARKÉTA ŠMATOVÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
MICHAELA ŠADIBOLOVÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
EVA POSPÍŠILOVÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
PAVLÍNA HADRAVSKÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
MICHAELA KAŠPAROVÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic
VERONIKA HANUŠOVÁ SKARKOVÁ ; Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Šimkova 870, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 38, Czech Republic
VĚRA KRÁLOVÁ ; Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Šimkova 870, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 38, Czech Republic
LENKA SKÁLOVÁ ; Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovského 1203, Hradec Králové, CZ-500 05, Czech Republic

Abstract

The present study is designed to find out if sesquiterpenes, α-humulene (HUM), valencene (VAL), β-caryphyllene-oxide (CAO) and trans-nerolidol (NER), are able to improve the antiproliferative effect of classical cytostatic drugs, 5-fluorouracil (FU) and oxaliplatin (1,2-diaminocyclohexaneoxalato-platinum, OxPt), in colon cancer cell lines Caco-2 and SW-620. In addition, the possible mechanisms of sesquiterpene action are studied. The results show significant ability of HUM and especially of CAO to enhance the antiproliferative effects of FU and OxPt in cancer cell lines Caco-2 and SW-620. On the other hand, VAL and NER are ineffective. The action of CAO could be partly based on its ability to disrupt the mitochondrial membrane potential and to activate initiator caspases, but other mechanisms are probably also involved. Based on these results, CAO seems to have the potential for combination therapy of colon cancers and deserves further study.

Keywords

terpenes; Caco-2; SW-620; combination therapy

Hrčak ID:

203824

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/203824

Publication date:

31.3.2019.

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