Evaluation of Antioxidant-Rich Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Infusion and Carvacrol: Impact on Metabolic Activity and Cytotoxicity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Brian Enrique Rojo-Ruvalcaba, Montserrat Maldonado-González, Gabriela María Cálix-Rodríguez, Elia Herminia Valdés-Miramontes, Juan Florencio Gómez-Leyva, Teresa Arcelia García-Cobián, Pedro Ernesto Sánchez-Hernández, Andrea Carolina Machado-Sulbaran, Rocío Ivette López-Roa, Iván Balderas-León, Trinidad García-Iglesias

Journal: Nutrients 2025;17(19):

PMID: 41097166

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: The search for natural alternatives in breast cancer (BC) management has spurred interest in plant-derived extracts, particularly oregano variants and their bioactive compound carvacrol (Cv). However, Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) infusion (MoI) remains unexplored. This study aimed to chemically characterize MoI and compare its anticancer effects with Cv across BC cell lines, including aggressive triple-negative (TN) subtypes. Methods: MoI was analyzed for composition, antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, total phenols/flavonoids), and phytochemical profile (FTIR, HPLC). Anticancer activity was assessed via MTT and LDH assays. Results: MoI exhibits strong antioxidant capacity and concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects, with IC50 values ranging from 0.08 to 0.18 mg/mL across BC lines, significantly higher (i.e., less cytotoxic) than Cv IC50 of 121-211 µM. Importantly, MoI displayed markedly lower cytotoxicity toward non-cancerous cells (IC50 0.18 mg/mL) compared to Cv (IC50 110 µM). Conclusions: While both agents reduced metabolic activity, Cv induced a more acute suppression. These findings position MoI as a promising, selective candidate for BC therapy, particularly for poor-prognosis subtypes like TN BC, warranting further mechanistic investigation.

Address: Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biología Molecular en Medicina, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.; Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Infectocontagiosas (CIEIC), Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.; Instituto de Cáncer en la Infancia y la Adolescencia (INICIA), Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.; Instituto de Investigaciones en Comportamiento Alimentario y Nutrición (IICAN), Centro Universitario del Sur (CUSUR), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ciudad Guzmán 49000, Jalisco, Mexico.; Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Tlajomulco, DEPI, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga 45640, Jalisco, Mexico.; Instituto de Terapéutica Experimental y Clínica (INTEC), Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.; Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo Farmacéutico (LIDF), Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías (CUCEI), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico.

DOI: 10.3390/nu17193089

MeSH Terms: Humans, Cymenes, Lippia, Antioxidants, Cell Line, Tumor, Female, Plant Extracts, Breast Neoplasms, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Cell Proliferation, Cell Survival, Inhibitory Concentration 50, Origanum