Abdorrahim Absalan - Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Alireza Mesbah-Namin - Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Taki Tiraihi - Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Taher Taheri - Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam Alanbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Objective(s): To investigate the effect of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on the telomere-dependent senescence of stem cells. In addition, to search the probable targets of mentioned phytochemicals between human telomere interacting proteins (TIPs) using in silico studies. Materials and Methods: Human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) were studied under treatments with ۲.۵ µM/ml cinnamaldehyde, ۰.۱ µg/ml eugenol, ۰.۰۱% DMSO or any additive. The expression of TERT, AKT۱ and DKC۱ genes and the telomere length were assessed over ۴۸-hr treatment. In addition, docking study was conducted to show probable ways through which phytochemicals interact with TIPs. Results: Treated and untreated hASCs had undetectable TERT expression, but they did affect the AKT۱ and DKC۱ expression levels (CI=۰.۹۵; P<۰.۰۵). The telomere lengths reduced in phytochemicals treated with hASCs when compared with the untreated cells (P<۰.۰۵). Docking results showed that the TIPs might be the proper targets for cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Data mining showed there are many targets for cinnamaldehyde and eugenol in the intracellular environment. Conclusion: The general effect of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol is their induction of stem cell senescence. Therefore, they could be applicable as chemo-preventive or antineoplastic agents.

Aging, Cinnamaldehyde, Eugenol, Stem cells, Telomerase, Telomere