Salvia microphylla essential oil reduces cell viability in cisplatin-resistant clear cell type ovarian cancer cells caused by mitochondrial dysfunction

Salvia microphylla (S. microphylla), a plant grown as a medicinal plant in central Mexico and used to make tea, has been demonstrated to possess anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. However, the anticancer properties of S. microphylla essential oil have not been investigated. Hence, we conducted this experiment to highlight its efficacy against cancer.

Three different types of ovarian cancer cells were incubated with S. microphylla essential oil concentration dependently and detected at 560 nm and 650 nm of microplate reader. The specific components of extract were detected by GC–MS. Cell apoptosis, cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium level, reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of apoptosis, antioxidants, and mitochondria-related genes were measured by real-time qPCR.

S. microphylla essential oil inhibited the viability of a cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line A2780cis, with intracellular calcium imbalance, reactive oxygen species regulation, mitochondria membrane potential loss and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, expressions of genes affecting mitochondrial complex, mitochondrial membrane pores, antioxidant levels, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis were investigated.

The S. microphylla essential oil has anticancer potential in A2780cis, encouraging further in vivo studies.