Insights into Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity of <i>Juniperus communis</i> Essential Oil in HeLa and HCT 116 Cells
Tijana Marković,
Suzana Popović,
Sanja Matić,
Marina Mitrović,
Marijana Anđić,
Aleksandar Kočović,
Milena Vukić,
Vladimir Petrović,
Jovica Branković,
Nenad Vuković,
Danijela Todorović,
Miroslava Kačániová,
Dejan Baskić
Affiliations
Tijana Marković
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Suzana Popović
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Sanja Matić
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Marina Mitrović
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Marijana Anđić
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Aleksandar Kočović
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Milena Vukić
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića, 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Vladimir Petrović
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića, 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Jovica Branković
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića, 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Nenad Vuković
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića, 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Danijela Todorović
Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Miroslava Kačániová
Institute of Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
Dejan Baskić
Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića, 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
As cancer remains a significant global health challenge, there is an increasing need for novel therapeutic approaches. We investigated the antitumor potential of Juniperus communis berry essential oil on cervical cancer HeLa and colorectal HCT 116 cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through the MTT assay, revealing concentration-dependent reductions in cell viability. A clonogenic assay demonstrated long-term cytotoxic effects. Apoptosis markers were assessed via flow cytometric analysis and showed an induction of the intrinsic pathway in both cell lines, demonstrated by the elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, JC-10 monomer formation, and cytochrome C migration to the cytosol. The treatment inhibited cell-survival pathways in HCT 116 cells and arrested HeLa cells in the S phase. An extensive molecular docking screening provided insight into the binding affinity and interaction patterns of the essential oil components with NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, further confirming the induction of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The obtained in silico and in vitro results indicated the anticancer potential of J. communis berry essential oil as it interferes with cancer cell molecular mechanisms. Our findings highlight J. communis berry essential oil as a promising natural agent with anticancer potential.
