In vitro Anti-Proliferative Effect of Salvia officinalis Essential Oil and its Three Main Components on Human Lung Cancer Cells

Objective: Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. For this reason, novel therapeutic approaches for its treatment are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Salvia officinalis essential oil and its three main components in human lung cancer A549 and NCI-H226 cells. Method: A549 and NCI-H226 cells were treated with various concentrations of Salvia officinalis essential oil and with a combination of two and three of its main constituents (1,8-cineole, ?- thujone and camphor), at a dose of 100 and 200 ?g/ml for 48 and 72 hours. The anti-proliferative activity was evaluated by the MTT assay. Result: We showed that the treatment with Salvia officinalis essential oil, at a dose of 200 ?g/ml for 72 hours, caused significant growth inhibition on both cell lines, compared with respective controls. The same result was obtained from the treatment with the combination of ?-thujone and 1,8-cineole, ?-thujone and camphor and 1,8-cineole and camphor, at a dose of 200 ?g/ml each for 72 hours, and with the association of ?-thujone, 1,8-cineole and camphor at a dose of 100 ?g/ml each for 48 hours. Conclusion: Based on these preliminary results, Salvia officinalis could represent an important source of substances with antiproliferative activity and could improve the treatment of this devastating disease.