Effective seed cake extract of O. sanctum inducing the p53 dependent apoptotic pathway in oral cancer cells

Abstract

Objective

Present study was to observe the therapeutic aspects of seed cake extracts of Ocimum sanctum against the oral cancer cell line with the activation of p53 apoptotic pathway.

Method

Seed cake extracts were characterized using GC-MS analysis. Cytotoxic activity was observed on KB cells and L929 cell through MTT assay and scratch assay. Antioxidant activity on KB cells were determined using enzymatic and non enzyme content in the treated cells. Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was established to check the presence of blood vessel formation and neuvasculature pattern in the treated fertilized eggs. DNA fragmentation and gene expression studies were also determined in the treated cells to check the upregulation of apoptotic pathways.

Results

GC-MS analysis confirmed alkaloids, phenols, and many. The cytotoxic activity showed maximum antiproliferative potential with aqueous extract, whereas no cytotoxic effect was observed on L929 cells. The ethanolic and aqueous extract has shown a greater SI value. Scratch assay has signified that aqueous extract has a lower migration rate of KB cells. Aqueous extract showed maximum enzymatic activity and lower malondialdehyde content in cells treated with ethanolic extract. CAM model confirmed that eggs treated with aqueous extract has shown inhibition of vasculature pattern and dissolutions of blood vessels. DNA Fragmentation and Gene expression studies confirmed maximum fold in the KB cell treated with an aqueous extract of seed cake leading to activation of p53 dependent apoptotic pathway.

Conclusion

The potent therapeutic properties of seed cake extracts have been proven, and they can be used as herbal treatments to prevent oral cancer.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Seed cake
• GC-ms
• p53 apoptotic pathway
• oral cancer
• chick chorioallantoic membrane

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Prof. (Dr.) Bhudev C. Das, Officiating Head, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India for providing guidance and support.

Authors contributions

Yash Sharma Methodology, Formal analysis, Validation, Data curation, Investigation, Writing – Original Draft. Rupa Misra: Investigation, Visualization, Methodology, Software. Amritpal Kaur: Resources, Formal analysis. Mausumi Bhardwaj: Writing – review & editing, Visualization. Kumud Bala: Conception, Design, Methodology, Supervision, Data curation, Writing – review & editing, Project administration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for providing fund.