A study, co-authored by researchers Vatansever and Başer from Near East University, delves into the potential therapeutic benefits of Boswellia sacra (BS) essential oil in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its high lethality and global prevalence, necessitating the exploration of novel treatment modalities with minimal side effects. The study focused on elucidating the anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of BS essential oil in PANC-1 cells, a pancreatic cancer cell line.
Chemical analysis of BS essential oil was conducted using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), revealing the presence of 41 compounds. The study employed various assays to evaluate the efficacy of BS essential oil, including cell viability assays using the MTT method, immunocytochemistry to assess anti-cancer activity, and the DPPH method to measure antioxidant activity.
The results demonstrated that BS essential oil exhibited significant anti-cancer activity, with an IC50 value of 130 μg/mL in PANC-1 cells. Immunocytochemistry revealed a decrease in Ki-67 immunoreactivity, indicating suppression of cell proliferation. Conversely, immunoreactivities of STAT-3 and β-catenin increased in BS essential oil-treated PANC-1 cells, suggesting potential activation of the β-catenin pathway.
Additionally, BS essential oil demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, further underscoring its potential therapeutic utility in pancreatic cancer. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the anti-cancer properties of natural products, particularly essential oils derived from Boswellia sacra.
In conclusion, the study suggests that BS essential oil may exert its anti-cancer effects through modulation of the β-catenin activation pathway, leading to suppression of cell proliferation in PANC-1 cells. These promising results warrant further investigation into the therapeutic potential of BS essential oil as a supplementary therapy for pancreatic cancer.
More Information:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0972060X.2023.2257241
