Natural products based on their significant anti-cancer potencies have been used in cancer treatment. A natural blend of triterpenoid saponins derived from the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), has been investigated in various diseases based on its main active ingredient escin. Herein, we examined the potential antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and cytotoxic activities of escin on human skin melanoma (CHL-1) cells. Cytotoxicity of escin was determined by MTT assay. Morphological changes were detected by confocal microscopy and ultrastructural changes by transmission electron microscopy studies. Phosphatidylserine translocation assay, Bcl-2 activation assessment, and oxidative stress analysis were used to determine the cell death mode of the cells. The results showed that escin reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner within 24 h of exposure and was highly cytotoxic at lower concentrations (IC₅₀ value 6 μg/mL). Escin inactivated Bcl-2 signaling and triggered apoptosis by increasing the reactive oxygen species and by causing morphological and ultrastructural changes that implicate to the proapoptotic activity. Escin has been found to exert high potential for an anti-cancer drug following further in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Oil Rose (Rosa x damascena Mill.) has a great economic value in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries with its essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation. Essential oils are usually volatile at room temperature and they have strong biological effects. These aromatic natural extracts have been used for centuries for their therapeutic properties. Turkish Rose oil has great economic value for Türkiye and is widely used in current aromatherapy applications with its sedative and relaxing effects, besides its usage in cosmetic and fragrance industries. Furthermore, rose oil is one of the preferred aromatherapy oils for increasing the quality of life of cancer patients during chemotherapy. In this study, the cytotoxic, proapoptotic and antibacterial effects of rose oil and its major component citronellol were studied on A549 human lung cancer cells and Beas-2B healthy human lung epithelial cells. Antibacterial tests were performed with CLSI methods. For cytotoxicity test MTT technique was used. Results showed, cytotoxicity (IC50 value of 16.9 µg/mL), antiproliferative, antibacterial (MIC value of 750 µg/mL) and proapoptotic effects of citronellol. Additionally, morphological and ultrastructural changes indicating apoptosis were detected. Based on the findings, structural alterations in mitochondria and cell membranes, along with chromatin condensation and apoptotic alterations, were observed in A549 cells. Rose oil and citronellol induced apoptosis in both cell lines at different concentrations.