Chem Biodivers 2024 Sep 13;:e202401530. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.202401530.

Essential Oil Extracted from Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) Induces Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis, and Antimigratory Effects in Melanoma Cells.

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Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, poses a substantial global health threat with increasing incidence rates. Although novel targeted therapies have improved melanoma treatment, challenges persist due to poor response rates and drug resistance. Plant-derived compounds have been crucial in anticancer drug discovery, with many natural products demonstrating the ability to target molecular pathways involved in tumor development. In this study, the anti-melanoma potential of essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Lippia sidoides Cham. (EO-LS), composed mainly by the monoterpene thymol (96%), was demonstrated. Obtained results demonstrated that EO-LS disrupted critical cancer hallmarks in A2058 melanoma cells harboring the BRAFV600E mutation. Specifically, EO-LS induced G1-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as assessed by annexin-V, caspase-3 activity, and TUNEL assays. EO-LS also inhibited cell migration and disrupted the AKT signaling pathway, which is a critical regulator of melanoma progression. Furthermore, a dose-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was observed, indicating pro-oxidant properties. These findings highlighted the significant in vitro anticancer properties of EO-LS suggesting its potential as a promising molecular scaffold for developing of novel anti-melanoma candidates.

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