Antitumor effects of volatile components of Magnolia salicifolia essential oil against breast cancer cells are mediated via mitochondrial apoptosis

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background Plant essential oils exhibit anticancer properties. However, the antitumor effects of Magnolia salicifolia essential oil remain unexplored. Methods We evaluated the antitumor activities of M. salicifolia essential oil and its volatile components in 4T1 murine breast cancer cells. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. The concentration of the volatile components was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). Morphological changes in the cells were examined using fluorescence microscopy. The underlying mechanisms regarding the antitumor effects of M. salicifolia essential oil were investigated using western blotting. Results M. salicifolia essential oil exhibited potent antitumor activity with a Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 1.05 µg/mL in 4T1 cells. The antitumor effects of the volatile components decreased in a distance-dependent manner. GC-MS analysis revealed that the oil contained high levels of citral (neral + geranial), 1,8-cineole, and transanethole. Citral demonstrated significantly stronger antitumor activity than 1,8-cineole (IC50 = 1.93 vs. 68.4 µg/mL; n=3 independent experiments per condition). In vivo , inhalation of M. salicifolia essential oil vapor significantly reduced tumor incidence (7 of 15 mice, 47% vs. 14 of 15 mice, 93% in controls; Fisher’s exact test, p=0.0142) and tumor area and weight (n=15 mice/group, p