Evaluation of anticancer activity of Melaleuka alternifolia (i. e. tea tree oil) on laryngeal cancer cell line (Hep2) - an in-vitro study

Abstract

Introduction and Aims A naturally available plant extract of Melaleuka alternifolia tea tree oilTTO is used as a very good antibacterial antifungal antiviral antiprotozoal and anti-inflammatory agent. Currently lot of importance is given for its anticancer effect. Our aim was to evaluate anticancer activity of Melaleuka alternifolia against laryngeal cancer cell line Hep2.Methodology Two different cell lines were used to know the cell viability and cell lysis cytotoxicity in laryngeal cancer Hep2 and monkey kidney cell line Vero used as control. Cell culture The cell lines were maintained in 96 wells micro titer plate containing MEM media supplemented with 10 heat inactivated fetal calf serum FCS containing 5 of mixture of Gentamicin 10ug Penicillin 100 Unitsml and Streptomycin 100microgml in presence of 5 CO2 at 37ordmC for 48-72 hours. Cytotoxicity Assay In vitro growth inhibition effect of test compound was assessed by calorimetric or spectrophotometric determination of conversion of MTT intonbsp Formazan blue by living cells.Results The results represent the mean of five readings. The concentration at which the OD of treated cells was reduced by 50 i.e IC50 value is 0.781microgml of TTO with respect to the untreated control. The standard formula was used for the calculation of cell viability and cell lysis. showed Spearmans Correlation Coefficient Correlation with P value lt0.001 indicating significant results when TTO was treated with Hep2 and Vero cell line. Conclusion TTO is having very good anticancer property against laryngeal cancer cell line Hep2. There was no cytotoxicity noted with Monkey Kidney Vero cell line. The current study can be brought to the level of clinical trials which can show TTO with its greater efficacy related to anticancer activity.