Apoptosis‑Mediated Anticancer Activity of Geraniol Inhibits NF‑κB, MAPK, and JAK‑STAT‑3 Signaling Pathways in Human Thyroid Cancer Cells

Abstract

Aim: Thyroid cancer accounts for 3.8% of the total endocrine cancer and is the fifth most diagnosed cancer among Indian women. Geraniol possesses pharmacological properties, including anti‑inflammatory, anti‑cancer, and neuroprotective properties. The anti‑cancer activity of geraniol on TPC‑1 cells was assessed in this study.Materials and Methods: The anticancer activity of geraniol in TPC‑1 cells was evaluated by MTT test, ROS, DAPI, PI, and AO/EB staining. mRNA and expression were assessed by qPCR and western blot.Results: The geraniol has shown cytotoxic effects toward TPC‑1 cells and showed an IC50 value of 25 µM, which decreases cell viability and inhibited cell proliferation. It also increased the accumulation of intracellular ROS, which induces apoptosis in the TPC‑1 cells due to the dissipation of membrane potential and disruption of mitochondria. There is a substantial reduction in the mRNA level expressions of Bcl‑2, Cyclin D1, c‑Myc, COX‑2, TNF‑α, NF‑κB, IL‑6, and surviving. It also upregulated the Bax and caspase‑3 mRNA expression suggesting cell death‑mediated apoptosis.Conclusion: We report that geraniol effectively inhibited the JAK‑2, STAT‑3, and ERK signaling pathways depicting geraniol as a potential therapeutic molecule for thyroid cancer treatment.

Keywords: Apoptosis; cell proliferation; geraniol; MAPK signaling; thyroid cancer