title: Eugenol triggers different pathobiological effects on human oral mucosal fibroblasts.
abstract: Pathobiological effects of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol), a major constituent of betel quid (BQ), were studied on oral mucosal fibroblasts. At a concentration higher than 3 mmol/L, eugenol was cytotoxic to oral mucosal fibroblasts in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cell death was associated with intracellular depletion of glutathione (GSH). Most of the GSH was depleted prior to the onset of cell death. At concentrations of 3 mmol/L and 4 mmol/L, eugenol depleted about 45% and 77% of GSH after one-hour incubation. In addition, eugenol decreased cellular ATP level in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Eugenol also inhibited lipid peroxidation. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation was partially explained by its dose-dependent inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. The IC50 of eugenol on xanthine oxidase activity was about 0.3 mmol/L. No DNA strand break activity for eugenol was found at concentrations between 0.5 and 3 mmol/L. Taken together, frequent exposure of oral mucosa to a high concentration of eugenol during the chewing of BQ might be involved in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer via its cytotoxicity. In contrast, eugenol at a concentration less than 1 mmol/L might protect cells from the genetic attack of reactive oxygen species via inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity and lipid peroxidation.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005054:Eugenol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D005054:Eugenol; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D005978:Glutathione