Chemosensitizing properties of ?-caryophyllene and ?-caryophyllene oxide in combination with doxorubicin in human cancer cells
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.