A Comparative Study of the Antioxidant/Prooxidant Effects of Carvacrol and Thymol at Various Concentrations on Membrane and DNA of Parental and Drug Resistant H1299 Cells


Creative Commons License

Ozkan A., Erdogan A.

NATURAL PRODUCT COMMUNICATIONS, vol.7, no.12, pp.1557-1560, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 7 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/1934578x1200701201
  • Journal Name: NATURAL PRODUCT COMMUNICATIONS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1557-1560
  • Keywords: Carvacrol, Thymol, DNA, Membrane, Anticancer, Antioxidant, ESSENTIAL PLANT OILS, LUNG-CANCER NSCLC, IN-VITRO, L., COMPONENTS, CYTOTOXICITY, 1,8-CINEOLE, INHIBITION, EXTRACTS, TURKEY
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Carvacrol and thymol, both used as flavor agents in cosmetic and food products, have prooxidant and antioxidant activities. To clarify the mechanisms of their
cytotoxicity and the factors affecting their antioxidant/prooxidant activities, we investigated cell membrane and DNA damage induced by carvacrol and thymol
in parental and drug-resistant human lung cancer cell lines. After 24 and 48 hour incubation periods, the cytotoxicity of carvacrol (IC50 380 and 244 μM) was
found to be higher than that of thymol (IC50 497 and 266 μM) in parental cells. However, thymol showed higher cytotoxic effects in drug resistant H1299 cells
for three incubation periods. Also, carvacrol and thymol, at higher concentrations, increased malondealdehyde (MDA) levels causing membrane damage and
8-hydroxy deoxyguanozine (8-OHdG) levels, causing DNA damage to both parental and drug resistant cells. On the other hand, carvacrol and thymol
protected the cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, and membrane and DNA damage when the cells were preincubated with these two compounds at lower
concentration (<IC50) before H2O2 incubation. These findings suggest that carvacrol and thymol exhibit protective/damaging effects depending on cell
resistance, concentration and time.
Carvacrol and thymol, both used as flavor agents in cosmetic and food products, have prooxidant and antioxidant activities. To clarify the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity and the factors affecting their antioxidant/prooxidant activities, we investigated cell membrane and DNA damage induced by carvacrol and thymol in parental and drug-resistant human lung cancer cell lines. After 24 and 48 hour incubation periods, the cytotoxicity of carvacrol (IC50 380 and 244 mu M) was found to be higher than that of thymol (IC50 497 and 266 mu M) in parental cells. However, thymol showed higher cytotoxic effects in drug resistant H1299 cells for three incubation periods. Also, carvacrol and thymol, at higher concentrations, increased malondealdehyde (MDA) levels causing membrane damage and 8-hydroxy deoxyguanozine (8-OHdG) levels, causing DNA damage to both parental and drug resistant cells. On the other hand, carvacrol and thymol protected the cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, and membrane and DNA damage when the cells were preincubated with these two compounds at lower concentration (