Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Celastrus orbiculatus Celastraceae Thunb extracts inhibit proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by blocking NF-κB pathway

Deqiang Hou¹, Ning Bai², Zicheng Wei¹, Bang Li³, Genxiong Tang⁴, Yufeng Gao¹

¹Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000; ²Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000; ³Department of Orthodontics of Stomatology, Hefei Stomatological Hospital, Hefei 230000; ⁴Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Childrenâ€™s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China.

For correspondence:- Yufeng Gao Email: jianghongbingkjh@163.com

Accepted: 30 May 2019 Published: 30 June 2019

Citation: Hou D, Bai N, Wei Z, Li B, Tang G, Gao Y. Celastrus orbiculatus Celastraceae Thunb extracts inhibit proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by blocking NF-κB pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2019; 18(6):1259-1264 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v18i6.16

© 2019 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of action of Celastrus orbiculatus extract (COE) on oral squamous carcinoma cells.

Methods: Tca8113 cells were divided into negative control and three COE treatment groups, viz, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL of COE. Succinate dehydrogenase activity assay (MTT assay) and flow cytometry were used to assess cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by Transwell chamber and wound healing assays while relative protein expression was determined by Western blot.

Results: As the concentration of COE increased, the number of cells arrested in the G0/G1 phase increased (p < 0.05), expressions of cell-cycle-related proteins decreased (p < 0.001); the number of apoptotic cells increased (p < 0.001), and the rates of cell migration and invasion decreased (p < 0.001). Exogenous COE significantly inhibited p-IκBα accumulation in the cytoplasm and induced IκBα accumulation. Nuclear p65 recruitment was reduced in cells treated with COE compared to untreated control cells (p < 0.001), suggesting that the classical NF-κB pathway was blocked by COE.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that COE inhibits the proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells while promoting apoptosis by blocking NF-κB pathway. These findings suggest that Celastrus orbiculatus extract possesses a potential therapeutic effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Celastrus orbiculatus, Renal impairment, Diabetes, Cell migration, NF-κB pathway