Abstract
Objective: Although combinations of multiple cancer therapies have reduced the mortality, they often cause severe adverse reactions, and the new strategies with fewer adverse reactions are desired. Our present study demonstrated that an essential oil preparation from hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata) exerts an antitumor effect against gastric cancer cells. Methods: MKN45 gastric cancer cells were incubated with whole of hiba essential oil (HEO) or volatile components of the HEO, followed by assessment of tumor growth inhibition by MTT assay. Apoptotic change of these cancer cells was also analyzed by TUNEL reaction. Nude mice were used to establish a model of gastric cancer tumor growth and peritoneal disseminated metastasis, in which the volume of tumor and the number of peritoneal disseminations were evaluated after inhalation of volatile components of HEO for 4 weeks. In addition, the antitumor effect of the hinokitiol, one of the anti-tumor ingredients of hiba, was compared. Results: HEO treatment induced the inhibition of tumor growth and apoptosis in MKN45 gastric cancer cells. Volatile components of the HEO also inhibited the growth and induced the apoptosis in MKN45 cells, and significantly reduced the peritoneal dissemination and metastasis in in vivo mice model. The hinokitiol, an ingredient of HEO, exhibited the weaker tumor growth inhibition effect than the whole of HEO preparation. Conclusion: Our study indicates that HEO, especially volatile components, have an anti-tumor activity of gastric cancer. We also reveal that not only hinokitiol, but also other components may play a role as antitumor factor.
Highlights
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Japan, and it is well known that the one in two people will develop cancer [1]
We demonstrated that Thujopsis dolabrata (Hiba in Japan) essential oil had antitumor effect against gastric cancer cell
MKN45 gastric cancer cells were treated with whole hiba essential oil (HEO) and the activity of tumor growth inhibition was assessed by MTT assay
Summary
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Japan, and it is well known that the one in two people will develop cancer [1]. The advancement of individual therapies and bringing in the multimodal therapy, i.e., effective combination of multiple therapies, have improved the outcome of cancer therapy and reduced the mortality from cancer [1]. These therapies often cause severe adverse reactions, and this may prevent the completion of the treatment in some patients. Despite good initial responses, drug resistance and disease recurrence remain major issues for cancer treatments. Under these circumstances, safer and more effective new strategies are desired
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