Synergistic activities of the essential oils Hypericum perforatum with methotrexate on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Abstract

Hypericum perforatum (Hypericaceae) is a perennial plant usually known as “Sarikantaron“ that has been reported to have various important biological activities.In this present study, it was aimed to (I) identify the components (ii) show the synergistic activities of the essential oils Hypericum perforatum with methotrexate on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. A normal [Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cell line] and a cancer cell line [Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7)] were used in this study. The cell culture were treated with various concentrations of Hypericum perforatum's oils. The cytotoxic activity of the essential oils of Hypericum perforatum on the cell lines was measured using the MTT method and the results were evaluated as IC50. In this study, the presence of trans-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, α-pinene, trans-cadina-1,4-diene, β- Selinene, caryophyllene oxide and α-Selinene were identified as major constituents of Hypericum perforatum's oils. The essential oils of Hypericum perforatum also exhibited anticancer activities against MCF-7 cells. The IC50 values of the essential oils, MTX and the essentialoilsplus MTX weredetermined as 0.78, 6.25 and 0.195 μg/ml, respectively, But, the essential oils of Hypericum perforatum was found to be non-cytotoxic for MDBK cells. In conclusion, the essential oils of Hypericum perforatum was chemically characterized and γ-muurolene, δ-cadinene, germacrene B, a-copaene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, and (E)-caryophyllene were found to be major constituents. The essential oils of Hypericum perforatum possess significant in vitro anticancer potential. The essential oils of Hypericum perforatum with MTX found to be significant effective against breast cancer cells. Further studies especially in vivo anticancer properties of Hypericum perforatum should be searched. These compounds found to be very promising compounds in the treatment of cancer therapy.