Antiproliferative effect of Chinese bayberry oil

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biochemical Sciences Candidate: Pavlína Klímová Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Lenka Skálová, Ph.D. Supervisor specialist: RNDr. Věra Králová, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Antiproliferative effect of Chinese bayberry oil Bayberry, Myrica rubra, is a fruit tree growing especially in China. It is also used in traditional medicine. There are many studies confirming its biological activities. Lately, Myrica rubra essential oil (MRO) was isolated from its leaves and its anticancer properties were tested in several intestinal cancer cell lines. In this study, the anticancer effect of MRO was verified by performing a neutral red uptake test in cell lines SW480, SW620, HT29 and in non-cancerous human fibroblast cell line GF 6 for comparison. HT29 was the most sensitive cell line, contrary to GF 6, which was not affected by MRO. We also tested a possible mechanism of action, a production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The essential oil significantly elevated the generation of ROS and this effect was concentration dependent. We also searched for the active substances in MRO. We conducted the tests with four sesquiterpenes - α-humulene, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene-oxide and trans-nerolidol. The neutral red uptake test showed..