title: Honokiol: a promising small molecular weight natural agent for the growth inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.
abstract: Honokiol (HNK) is a small organic molecule purified from magnolia species and has demonstrated anticancer activities in a variety of cancer cell lines; however, its effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells is unknown. We investigated the antitumor activities of HNK on OSCC cells in vitro for the first time. The inhibitory effects of HNK on the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells were demonstrated via in vitro 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and propidium iodide (PI) assays, and the apoptotic cells were investigated by the observation of morphological changes and detection of DNA fragmentation via PI, TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), and DNA ladder assays, as well as flow cytometry assay. The results showed that HNK inhibited the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells in vitro in a time and dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was associated with the cell apoptosis induced by HNK, evidenced by the morphological features of apoptotic cells, TUNEL-positive cells and a degradation of chromosomal DNA into small internucleosomal fragments. The study also demonstrated here that the inhibition or apoptosis mediated by 15 microg x mL(-1) or 20 microg x mL(-1) of HNK were more stronger compared with those of 20 microg x mL(-1) 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu, the control) applied to OSCC cells, when the ratio of OSCC cell numbers were measured between the treatment of different concentrations of HNK to the 5-Fu treatment for 48 h. HNK is a promising compound that can be potentially used as a novel treatment agent for human OSCC.
authors: Pharmacology and Toxicology Program, Faculty of Art and Science, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Xi-Rui
authors: XR
authors: Chen
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Lu
authors: Hong-Xia
authors: HX
authors: Dan
authors: Ga
authors: G
authors: Liao
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Zhou
authors: Xiao-Yu
authors: XY
authors: Li
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Ji
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031566:Magnolia; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005472:Fluorouracil; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C005499:honokiol; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols