Cytotoxic effects of two extracts from garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars on the human squamous carcinoma cell line SCC-15

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L., Alliaceae) has acquired a reputation as a therapeutic agent and herbal remedy to prevent and treat several pathologies. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of two Allium sativum L. cultivars, Harnaś and Morado, on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, viability and apoptotic process in human squamous carcinoma cell line SCC-15. The experiments were conducted on SCC-15 cell line exposed to increasing concentrations of garlic extracts of 0.062, 0.125, 0.250, 0.500 and 1.000 mg/mL. After the experiments, ROS formation, caspase-3 activity and neutral red uptake were measured in the cells, and in a collected medium lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was measured. The Spanish cultivar Morado has demonstrated higher potential to stimulate ROS production in SCC-15 cells after a short time period (6 h) than the Polish cultivar Harnaś. However, the Polish cultivar Harnaś manifested more prolonged potential to stimulate ROS production in SCC-15 cells. Both studied garlic extracts induced cytotoxicity on SCC-15 cell line which was probably ROS-dependent. We also determined that in SCC-15 cells high concentrations of studied extracts did not cause activation of caspase-3 which suggested caspase-independent or necrotic cell death.

Characterization of Active Compounds of Different Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Cultivars

“…Moreover, in our study, the Chinese and Spanish 'Morado' garlic extracts had the highest antiproliferative effect. A similar effect of the extract from Spanish cultivar 'Morado' was observed in the SCC-15 cell line [Szychowski et al, 2016]. These data suggest that garlic extracts can be toxic to both normal and cancer cells.…”

“…Interestingly, Polish cultivar 'Harnaś' exhibited an opposite effect on the SCC-15 cancer cell line [Szychowski et al, 2016]. Moreover, in our study, the Chinese and Spanish 'Morado' garlic extracts had the highest antiproliferative effect.…”

“…However, plant-derived phenolics may exhibit also the pro-oxidant action, which may be an important mechanism for their anticancer and apoptosis-inducing properties [Spencer et al, 2008]. The phenomenon of ROS-mediated cell death has been recently observed in human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (SCC-15) exposed to garlic extracts [Szychowski et al, 2016]. In the case of garlic, a high content of biologically-active components, such as phenolic compounds, may also increase the toxicity of garlic extracts [Oboh et al 2013].…”

Assessment of Phyto-Constituents by GC-MS and Anti-Tumour Activity of Garlic Grown in Different Altitude: A Comparative Study

“…Several garlic extract and its bioactive compounds have been reported for anti-tumour activity with various cancer/tumour cell lines. Szychowski et al 2016 reported the determine the involvement of Reactive Oxygen species (ROS) production in the viability and apoptosis in human tongue squamous carcinoma (SCC-15) cell line after exposure to two Allium sativum L. cultivars, Harnaś and Morado. This study suggested that garlic Polish cultivar Harnaś manifested more prolonged potential to stimulate ROS production in human squamous carcinoma (SCC-15) cells.…”

“…This study suggested that garlic Polish cultivar Harnaś manifested more prolonged potential to stimulate ROS production in human squamous carcinoma (SCC-15) cells. 9 Yedjou et al 2012 evaluated whether or not garlic extract-induced cytotoxicty and apoptosis in Human Leukemia (HL-60) cells is mediated phyto-constitutents variation in the garlic oil is due to geographic and ecological conditions.…”