The Anticancer Potential of Sideritis akmanii Extract in Melanoma Cells via Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Regulation

Abstract

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, characterized by its high metastatic potential and resistance to treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anticancer effects of the ethanol-water extract of the endemic plant Sideritis akmanii (S.  akmanii) on the G361 human melanoma cell line. Cell viability was determined using the [2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H- tetrazolium salt  (WST-1) assay, and oxidative stress parameters such as Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were calculated. Additionally, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β), Interleukin 1 Beta (IL-1β), and Beta Defensin 2 (DEF-β2) cytokine levels were analyzed using the ELISA method. A dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed as a result of the extract application, and it was determined that oxidative balance shifted toward the pro-oxidant direction with an increase in total oxidant levels. Furthermore, examination of the cytokine profile revealed that decreased levels of TNF-α and TGF-β indicated suppressed inflammation, increased levels of IL-1β indicated activation of the immune response, and decreased levels of DEF-β2 indicated a change in the tumor microenvironment that supports anticancer potential. These findings suggest that S. akmanii extract may have antiproliferative, oxidative stress-inducing, and immunomodulatory effects on melanoma cells. There is a need for more comprehensive studies to understand the mechanisms through which these effects occur.