The effect of a-terpineol on cell cycle, apoptosis and Bcl-2 family protein expression of breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Damiana Sapta Candrasari (Faculty of Pharmcy, Universitas Sanata Dharma,)
Sofia Mubarika (Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.)
Mae Sri Hartati Wahyuningsih (Department of Pharmacology and Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.)

Journal of the Medical Sciences (Berkala Ilmu Kedokteran)
Vol 47, No 2 (2015)

ABSTRACT The cytotoxic activity of a-terpineol on T47D and HeLa cancer cell lines have been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a-terpineol on cell cycle, apoptosis and Bcl-2 as well as Bax expression on MCF-7 cell line. The cytotoxic activity of a-terpineol was determined using MTT cell assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed using flowcytometry, whereas Bcl-2 and Bax expression were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that a-terpineol had cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 cell lines with an IC50 value of 33.0 ± 5.4 μg/mL. a-Terpineol induced cell accumulation in Sub-G1 lead to apoptosis of the MCF-7 cell. Moreover, a-terpineol inhibited Bcl-2 and induced Bax expressions. In conclusion, a-terpineol has potential anticancer activity against MCF-7 cancer cell line trough through cells cycle inhibition and apoptosis stimulation.