Article Sidebar
Published:
Feb 11, 2025Keywords:
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.
Main Article Content
Synergistic anticancer activity of Juniperus indica Bertol extract plus 5-fluorouracil against oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the potential effect and underlying mechanism of Juniperus indica Bertol extract (JIB) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: The OECM-1, and OSCC cells were exposed to JIB and/or 5-FU for 24–72 h, and subsequently, cell viability, cell cycle distribution, caspase activity, apoptotic cells, and protein expression were determined using the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; MTT) assay. Flow cytometry, fluorometric caspase activity assay kit, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and western blotting were carried out. Results: The combination of JIB and 5-FU significantly inhibited the growth of OECM-1 cells compared to JIB or 5-FU alone (p < 0.05). After treatment with JIB plus 5-FU, the cell cycle was significantly impeded by downregulating levels of CKD2/cyclin A and CDK4/cyclin D1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the combination treatment triggered apoptosis through activation of caspases and the regulation of Bax/caspase 9/caspase 3. In particular, JIB significantly suppressed the regrowth of 5-FU-treated cells and diminished the development of 5-FU resistance during OSCC treatment (p < 0.05) Conclusion: Juniperus indica Bertol extract (JIB) in combination with 5-FU synergistically inhibits cell proliferation, alters cell cycle distribution, and triggers apoptosis compared to single drug. There is need to further explore the potential use of JIB-based combination therapies to improve the clinical application of 5-FU in OSCC.
