Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent oral cancers, despite rapid improvement in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted gene therapy used in conjunction with mainstay surgery, the OSCC prognosis remains low. Previous studies have demonstrated anti-proliferative activity of polyphenols in cancer cells, Pyrogallol (PG) one of natural polyphenols, with cytotoxicity and apoptogenic effects on neoplastic and transformed cells, but not in normal cells.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of PG on tongue squamous cell carcinoma SCC-25 cells and evaluate possible apoptotic pathways on SCC-25 cells. Methods: Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay. Mode of cell death was determined using Image morphometric analysis and Estimation of caspase-3 by Real Time PCR.

Results: MTT results showed that SCC-25 cells were sensitive to PG with an IC50 value of 19.17 ug/ml. Image morphometric analysis showed a decrease in the mean values of Nuclear Area Factor (NAF) of SCC-25 cells treated with Different concentrations of PG when compared to control cells. In addition, PG induced apoptosis by simultaneous up-regulation of capase-3.

Conclusions: Different concentrations of PG have a cytotoxic effect on SCC-25 cells. PG was also found to be an effective anti-carcinogenic agent with less toxicity.