Effect of Transferulic acid on oral squamous carcinoma cells

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the anticancer effect of Transferulic acid (Tfr), a most abundant phenolic compound present in wheat, rice, oats, fruits like oranges, apples and its underlying mechanism. Oral squamous carcinoma cell line SCC-4 was treated with Tfr with (20-100μg/ml) concentrations for 24h and 48h. Cell proliferation, cells damage, nuclear fragmentation and chromatin disintegration was examined by MTT assay and DAPI fluorescence staining. Cell death percentage was measured by flow cytometric analysis after PI staining. Pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic gene Mcl-1 expression was assessed using Real Time PCR. Tfr (20-100μg/ml) caused cytotoxicity in SCC-4 cells by enhancing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of oral cancer cells with Tfr (60μg/ml) for 24h, 48 enhanced apoptosis as observed by morphological and cell death assessment in PI staining. Tfr (60μg/ml) significantly induced apoptosis through intrinsic pathway. Transferulic acid is a potent anticancer agent, which may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent.