Ricerc@Sapienza

Many natural compounds are able to control apoptotic signaling pathways particularly by modulating the NFkB and STAT3 cascades. The natural sesquiterpenes ?-caryophyllene (CRY) and beta-caryophyllene oxide (CRYO) exhibited in vitro chemosensitizing properties in different human cancer cell lines, among which liver cancer cells. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), that originates at the level of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts,is one the most aggressive type of cancer for its chemotherapy resistance and invasiveness.

The natural sesquiterpenes ?-caryophyllene (CRY) and ?-caryophyllene oxide (CRYO) were evaluated for their potential chemosensitizing properties.
CRY and CRYO cytotoxicity was tested against the Caco-2, CCRF/CEM and CEM/ADR5000 human cancer cell lines. Furthermore, combination experiments were carried out in order to study the ability of the sesquiterpenes to increase doxorubicin cytotoxicity. The possible interference of CRY and CRYO with functionality of ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-transporters was also investigated by Rhodamine123 efflux assay.