Safrole induces apoptosis in human oral cancer HSC-3 cells

Phytochemicals have been used as potential chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents. however,there are data suggesting a mutagenic effect of some phytochemicals. we hypothesized that safrole would have anticancer effects on human oral squamous cell carcinoma hsc-3 cells. safrole decreased the percentage of viable hsc-3 cells via induction of apoptosis by an increased level of cytosolic ca2+ and a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (îî̈m). changes in the membrane potential were associated with changes in the bax,release of cytochrome c from mitochondria,and activation of downstream caspases-9 and -3,resulting in apoptotic cell death. in vivo studies also showed that safrole reduced the size and volume of an hsc-3 solid tumor on a xenograft athymic nu/nu mouse model. western blotting and flow cytometric analysis studies confirmed that safrole-mediated apoptotic cell death of hsc-3 cells is regulated by cytosolic ca2+ and by mitochondria- and fas-dependent pathways. © international & american associations for dental research.