Antitumor Activity Of Ethanolic Extract Fromthymbra Spicata L.Aerial Parts: Effects On Cell Viability And Proliferation, Apoptosis Induction, Stat3, And Nf-Kb Signaling

Thyme-like plants includingThymbra spicata L. are widely used as food and folk medicinal remedies in the Mediterranean area. This study aimed to explore the in vitro antitumor potential of polyphenol-enriched extracts from aerial parts ofT. spicata. The ethanolic extract significantly inhibited proliferation of different human tumor cell lines, without significant effects on non-neoplastic cells. A deeper investigation of the molecular mechanism sustaining the in vitro antitumor activity of the extract was carried on the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 in comparison with the normal breast cells MCF-10A. The effects on MCF-7 cells were associated with the following:(i)production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release of nitric oxide;(ii)apoptosis induction; and(iii)reduction in STAT3 and NF-kB phosphorylation. The ethanolic extract fromT. spicataleaves might represent a novel therapeutic tool in combination with conventional chemotherapy to reduce the adverse side effects and drug resistance.