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In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Assay of Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil in Colon and Liver Cancer Cell Lines

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Abstract

Purpose

Toxic effects of vegetables have been the subject of numerous investigations in recent years. Eucalyptus globulus of the Myrtaceae family has been traditionally used in the treatment of various infectious disorders. This study aims to assay the potential anticancer effect of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil, in vitro, and compare its cytotoxic effects on cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines.

Methods

The cytotoxicity of the Eucalyptus globulus essential oil was evaluated in colon cancer cell line SW48, liver cancer cell line HepG2, HEK293t, and skin fibroblast using the MTT assay. We used 5-FU as the control treatment for cancer. The essential oil was diluted by phosphate buffer saline in cell culture.

Results

Eucalyptus globulus essential oil with the concentration of 0.01% did not reduce the cell viability of SW48 (IC50 = 0.2%) and fibroblast cells (IC50 = 5%) after a 48-h treatment period. Eucalyptus globulus essential oil did not also exhibit any toxic effects on HEK293t and HEPG2 cell lines, except in high dose (0.5%) with IC50 = 0.2% for both of the cell lines.

Conclusion

Eucalyptus essential oil showed some side effects and might not be safe to use for treatment at high doses (0.5% and 5%). Moreover, the findings of the present study show that eucalyptus essential oil suppressed the proliferation of human colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Eucalyptus essential oil might be a good candidate for the treatment of colon cancer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Research Consultation Center (RCC) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for their valuable assistance in English editing of this manuscript.

Funding

The vice chancellor of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences provided financial support to conduct this study (97-01-69-18627).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Hajar Khazraei & Mozhdeh Zamani

  2. Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Seyedeh Azra Shamsdin

  3. Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Mozhdeh Zamani

Authors
  1. Hajar Khazraei
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  2. Seyedeh Azra Shamsdin
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  3. Mozhdeh Zamani
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Correspondence to Mozhdeh Zamani.

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Khazraei, H., Shamsdin, S.A. & Zamani, M. In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Assay of Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil in Colon and Liver Cancer Cell Lines. J Gastrointest Canc 53, 363–369 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-021-00601-5

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