Long-term stimulation of areca nut components results in increased chemoresistance through elevated autophagic activity.

Background: We previously demonstrated the autophagy-inducing activity in the crude extract of areca nut (ANE) and its 30-100 kDa fraction (ANE 30-100 K). This study aimed to analyze whether chronic ANE and ANE 30-100 K stimulations lead to higher stress resistance and autophagic activity in oral cells, and whether the resulting autophagic status in stimulated cells correlates with stress resistance.

Materials And Methods: Malignant cells from the mouth oral epidermoid carcinoma Meng-1 (OECM-1) and blood (Jurkat T) origins were stimulated with non-cytotoxic ANE and ANE 30-100 K for 3 months.

Possible mechanism of betel-quid-extract-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Background/purpose: Betel quid extract (BQE) has been demonstrated to induce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression. This study aimed to establish the possible mechanism involved in this event.

Methods: Western blotting, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and gelatin zymography were used to study the expression level of MMP-2.