Anticancer Effects of J. Presl, Cinnamaldehyde, 4 Hydroxycinnamic Acid and Eugenol on an Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line.

Aim And Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the anticancer effects of J. Presl extract and its active constituents, such as cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Materials And Methods: Aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts of J. Presl (bark) were prepared using standardized protocols. Cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol were quantified in the extracts. Total saponins, tannins, and polyphenols were quantified in the selected extracts. A commercially available SCC-25 cell line was cultured according to standard protocol. The anticancer effects of the extract, active compounds, and standard cisplatin were assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cytotoxicity, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, DNA, fragmentation assay, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, and JC-1 staining (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro1,1',3,3'tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide).

Results: The hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated a higher quantity of the active ingredients cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol. The selected extract and active compounds demonstrated anticancer effects via apoptosis induction and S-phase arrest. Apoptosis induction was exerted by the extract via alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential.

Conclusion: J. Presl and its active compounds exhibited anticancer effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma. Further studies in animal models have to be carried out to assess toxicity and effects.

Clinical Significance: The anticancer properties of J. Presl could be explored further for prevention and management of oral squamous cell carcinoma.