Comparative Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory and Apoptotic Activities of Four Greek Essential Oils: Involvement in the Regulation of NF-κΒ and Steroid Receptor Signaling

Essential oils (EOs) are well-known for their anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and relaxing activities. Steroid hormones, especially glucocorticoids, also activities control of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis glucose homeostasis. The biological glucocorticoids render them most widely prescribed drugs, despite adverse side effects. In this study, comparative studies interference with receptor (GR) estrogen (ER) signaling EOs from Greek Oregano, Melissa officinalis, Lavender Chios Mastic, produced endemic mastic tree, were performed in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells. Mastic (Mastiha) oregano exhibited highest former showed a reduction both NF-κB activity protein levels. essential oil caused GR levels that may compensate its boosting effect on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced transcriptional activation, ending up no induction gluconeogenic phoshoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) constitute target. officinalis lavender suppression activation GR. Furthermore, active EO, taken PEPCK Thus, anti-gluconeogenic uncovered, possibly via regulation signaling. Moreover, cytotoxic actions mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis revealed. Our results highlight these essentials oils’ apoptotic relation to implication steroid hormones’ actions, uncovering potential use therapy, many applications pharmaceutical health industries as anti-cancer, anti-hyperglycemic supplements.