Assessment of Anti-angiogenic and Anti-tumoral Potentials of Origanum onites L. Essential Oil

Medicinal plants and culinary herbs with anti-angiogenic and little toxicity properties have gained importance in the last decade. Non-toxic anti-angiogenic phytochemicals are useful in combating cancer by preventing the formation of new blood vessels to support the tumor growth. We have investigated the essential oil of Origanum onites L., which is commonly used as a condiment, with reported antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, insecticidal and anti-carsinogenic activities for a possible anti-angiogenic activity. Essential oil of Origanum onites L. was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The antiproliferative activities (by MTT assay, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide), the anti-angiogenic activities (by matrigel tube formation assay), cell migration inhibiting capability (migration assay) and apoptotic potential (DAPI staining) of the Origanum onites essential oil (OOEO) were evaluated on rat adipose tissue endothelial cells (RATECs) and 5RP7 (c-H-ras transformed rat embryonic fibroblasts) cells. Our experimental results revealed that OOEO could markedly inhibit cell viability and induced apoptosis of 5RP7 cells and also could block in vitro tube formation and migration of RATEC. These results imply that OOEO having anti-angiogenic activity might be useful in preventing angiogenesis-related diseases and combating cancer.

Keywords: Essential oil, Origanum onites L, antiangiogenesis, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cancer