The anticancer effect of Salvia pisidica essential oil through promotion intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways in human cancer cell lines

Introduction: Species of the Salvia genus are aromatic herbs and traditionally used for many medicinal purposes in Anatolia. The genus has produced an extraordinarily large number of beneficial secondary metabolites belonging to numerous chemical groups. Salvia pisidica is an endemic plant of southwest Anatolia, the dried parts of which are used as herbal tea and local materia medica. Methods: The composition of endemic S. pisidica essential oil was determined through GC-MS studies. In vitro cytotoxicity activity and apoptosis analysis were investigated by MTT assay, q-PCR and Annexin V staining experiments.Results: Our results showed that 1,8 cineole (19.15 %) camphor (18.12 %) and gamma-gurjunene (8.58 %) were the major constituents of the essential oil. It showed cytotoxic effects on the human breast cancer MCF-7, colon carcinoma Caco-2, hepatocyte carcinoma HepG2, and prostate carcinoma LnCap. The results of q-PCR and image-cytometer analysis showed that the essential oil caused induction of apoptosis by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways in all cancer cell lines.Conclusion: S. pisidica essential oil demonstrates considerable cytotoxic activity due to an apoptosis-related mechanism, suggesting that their bioactive components could be used as natural anticancer substances.