Comparing the effects of essential oils of Origanum Vulgare L. and Origanum Majorana L. on cancerous BCL-1 and immune cells (lymphocyte and macrophage)

Abstract

Background: Plants of the Lamiaceae family are a rich source of medicinal compounds with anticancer properties. In many studies, only the anticancer properties of the compounds have been investigated and their toxic effects on healthy cells have not been addressed. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the toxic effects of essential oil of two species from the genus Origanum (Lamiaceae family) include of Origanum Vulgare L. and Origanum Majorana L. on BCL-1 and normal lymphocyte and macrophage in vitro. Methods: The plant samples were collected and the essential oils were obtained using the hydro-distillation method (Clevenger). The essential oils were analyzed by GC.MS. BCL-1 cell line, lymphocyte, and macrophage from normal mice co-culture with various concentrations of essential oils for 24h. Cell viability and cytotoxic effect of the essential oils were determined by MTT and LDH assays. Results: GC.MS results show the diverse components of the two essential oils so that it has only 12 shared parts. Both essential oils at a concentration of 0.01-1% (O.Vulgare 47-79% and O.Majorana 30-82%) inhibited the growth of the BCL-1 cancer cell line. (O.Vulgare essential oil IC50:0.01% and O.Majorana essential oil IC50:0.03%). Whereas these two essential oils at the highest concentration (1%) do not decrease the cell viability of macrophages and lymphocyte. Also, according to LDH test results, none of the concentrations of both essential oil had a cytotoxic effect on normal lymphocyte and macrophage cells. Conclusion: The essential oils of O.Vulgare and O.Majorana are a proper candidate for cancer treatment because, in addition to having strong anticancer effects, they had no cytotoxic effect on normal cells of the immune system.