Apoptotic and Anti-Metastatic Effect of Carvacrol in PANC-1 Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Pancreatic cancer is known to have one of the highest mortality rates among other cancer. Monoterpenes are natural compounds obtained from essential oils of plants. Carvacrol is a monoterpene phenolic derived from essential oils of various aromatic plants.In this study, the effects of carvacrol on proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells were investigated. XTT assay was used to determine cell proliferation and viability. mRNA level expression levels of BAX, BCL2, CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CASP9, CYCS, FADD, FAS and P53 were evaluated for determining the effect of carvacrol on apoptosis by qRT-PCR analysis. In addition, gene expressions of CDH1, CDH2, TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3, ZEB1 and ZEB2 were analyzed to evaluate its effect onmetastasis. Carvacrol inhibited the PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in dose and time dependent manner. Carvacrol treatment induced apoptosis by changing the expressions of genes important in apoptosis. Moreover, it suppressed the metastasis by effecting CDH1, CDH2, TIMP2, TIMP3 and ZEB2 expressions. In conclusion, carvacrol showed apoptotic and anti-metastatic effects in PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. It is thereby concluded that carvacrol may have a therapeutic potential in pancreatic cancer.