|
1
|
Sanders Z, Moffitt BA, Treaster M, Larkins A, Khulordava N, Benjock J, Spencer J, Henrie K, Wurst MJ, Broom A, Tamez N, DeRosa G, Campbell M, Keller E, Powell A, Weinbrenner D, Abenavoli L, Edenfield WJ, Chung K, Boccuto L, Ivankovic D. Effects of Origanum majorana on Breast Cancer Cells: An Alternative to Chemotherapy? Metabolites 2023; 13:1083. [PMID: 37887408 PMCID: PMC10608860 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have reported several beneficial effects of natural compounds on cancerous cells, highlighting their use for future treatments. These preliminary findings have encouraged experiments with natural substances, such as plant extracts, to examine both cytotoxic and mitogenic effects and find alternative treatments for diseases such as breast cancer. This study examines the effects of microwave-assisted and ethanol maceration of marjoram (Origanum majorana) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and normal breast tissue cell lines used as controls. Marjoram extracts displayed a cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 cell lines and a mitogenic effect on the control cell lines at the MTS test. The metabolic profiles of MCF-7 and control cell lines were also assessed using the Biolog Phenotype Mammalian Metabolic (PM-M) platform and revealed statistically significant differences in the utilization of energy sources, metabolic activity in the presence of certain ionic species, and responses to metabolic effectors, such as stimulant/catabolic compounds and steroid hormones. Exposure to marjoram extracts exerted positive effects on the MCF-7 cells on the abnormal utilization of energy sources and the responses to metabolic effectors, while no major effects were detected on control cells. These effects were compared to the metabolic impact of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, which showed profound cytotoxic effects on both cancerous and normal breast cells. In conclusion, our in vitro evidence indicates that marjoram extracts are a promising alternative to chemotherapy in breast cancer since they can successfully eliminate cancerous cells by affecting their metabolic capacity to proliferate without inducing noticeable adverse effects on normal breast tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Sanders
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Bridgette A. Moffitt
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Madeleine Treaster
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Ashley Larkins
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Nicholas Khulordava
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Jennifer Benjock
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Jillian Spencer
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Krista Henrie
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Matthew J. Wurst
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Abigail Broom
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Noah Tamez
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Gianna DeRosa
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - McKenzie Campbell
- Department of Chemistry, Anderson University, Anderson, SC 29621, USA
| | - Elizabeth Keller
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Addison Powell
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Donna Weinbrenner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Ludovico Abenavoli
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa—Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | | | - Ki Chung
- Prisma Health Cancer Institute, Greenville, SC 29605, USA (K.C.)
| | - Luigi Boccuto
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Diana Ivankovic
- Departments of Biology, Center for Cancer Research, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA; (Z.S.); (A.B.); (A.P.)
- Department of Healthcare Genetics, School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA (J.S.); (L.B.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Anderson University, 316 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621, USA
| |
Collapse
|