Phytol and (- )--bisabolol Synergistically trigger intrinsic apoptosis through redox and Ca²⁺ imbalance in non-small cell lung cancer

This study aimed to identify a combination of natural compounds that could enhance lung cancer treatment by targeting multiple pathways and reducing toxicity. The Chow-Talay method's CI value of 0.75 demonstrated that the synergistic combination of phytol and (-)-alpha-bisabolol (Phy + Bis) exhibited a significant anti-proliferative effect on A549 cells. After 24 h of treatment, Phy + Bis significantly altered the morphology of A549 cells and activated apoptosis. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are evidence that the combination treatments induced oxidative stress. Consequently, there was an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), leading to perturbations in the membrane potential (Delta Psi m). Intrinsic apoptosis was triggered by these effects, which resulted in depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, activation of Cas 9 and Cas 3, upregulation of Bax and Cyt-C, and downregulation of Bcl-2. Phy + Bis also caused G0/G1 phase arrest and cell senescence, with senescent cells expressing more p53. The combined therapy prevented the migration of A549 cells, possibly by interfering with the polymerization of the actin cytoskeleton. Importantly, Phy + Bis did not have any harmful effects on human lung L-132 cells, red blood cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and an in vivo artemia model. Overall, phytol and (-)-alpha-bisabolol appear to be a promising combination as a safe and effective therapy choice for non-small cell lung cancer.