Investigation of cytotoxic activity of βeta-caryophyllene on pancreatic cancer cells

Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP) is an organic sesquiterpene composite derived from multiple plants and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It interacts with cannabinoid receptors CB2, exhibiting analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Many researches have demonstrated that BCP exhibits a variety of biological effects in tumor cells, including inducing apoptotic cell death, exerting anti-inflammatory effects, and inhibiting clonogenicity, migration, and invasion. This special approach on cancer cells suggests that BCP is a hopeful therapeutic option for cancer treatment. Within this study, the influence of BCP on MIAPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells were examined in conjunction with the chemotherapeutic agent Etoposide to assess its potential to enhance therapeutic performance. The IC50 values of BCP for MIAPaCa-2 cell lines were 58 µg/mL, while etoposide had an IC50 of 10.7 µM. The combination of etoposide and BCP led to a higher occurrence of cell death in MIAPaCa-2 cells compared to either treatment alone. BCP additionally inhibited the levels of gene expression c-Myc and survivin, concurrently boosting the level of caspase-3 in MIAPaCa-2 cell lines, with these impacts being intensified when combined with etoposide. BCP demonstrated cytotoxic effects on MIAPaCa-2 cells and augmented the anti-growth effects of etoposide when combined, showing reduced unfavorable effects on normal cells.