International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210102020020921472147ENClinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, ShahrekordCellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord20200119<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">One of the most effective parameters in the progression of the prostate cancer is interleukin (IL)‑6 through affecting pSTAT3, pERK1/2, and pAKT cell signaling proteins. Carvacrol is an herbal antioxidant with antitumor effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of carvacrol on </span><span class="fontstyle3">IL</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑</span><span class="fontstyle3">6 </span><span class="fontstyle2">gene expression, pSTAT3, pAKT, pERK1/2 cellular signaling proteins, and invasion in human prostate cancer PC3 cells. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">PC3 cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay with different concentrations of carvacrol (0–800 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">M). </span><span class="fontstyle3">IL‑6 </span><span class="fontstyle2">gene expression and cellular concentration of pSTAT3, pERK1/2, and pAKT were investigated using the real‑time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting technic, respectively. PC3 cell invasion was determined by invasion assay test. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Carvacrol IC </span><span class="fontstyle2" style="font-size: 5pt;">50 </span><span class="fontstyle2">for PC3 prostate cancer cells was 360 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">M. Carvacrol led to a significant reduction (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.05) for </span><span class="fontstyle3">IL‑6 </span><span class="fontstyle2">gene expression in a dose‑dependent manner compared to control. IL‑6 protein reduced 41.5% and 52.7% when compared with control cells at 360 and 420 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">M of carvacrol, respectively.<br />Carvacrol led to a decline in pSTAT3, pAKT, and pERK1/2 above 360 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">M compared to control. PC3 potential invasion was significantly reduced after treatment with carvacrol in a dose‑dependent manner. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Decreased IL‑6 protein level by carvacrol resulted in diminishing of pSTAT3, pERK1/2, and pAKT signaling proteins, which leads to the reduction of the cell survival, proliferation, and invasion in PC3 cells.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Cell survival, interleukin‑6, prostatic neoplasms, STAT3 protein, terpenes</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2147http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2147/717717943