The therapeutic activity of curcumin through its anti-cancer potential on oral squamous cell carcinoma: A study on Sprague Dawley rat

Abstract

Objectives: Being the most common type of oral malignancies, oral squamous cell carcinoma is initiated by epithelial dysplasia, which can be marked by the expression of nuclear factor kappa B and cyclooxygenase 2. Curcumin has been known for its anti-cancer potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-cancer potential of curcumin on oral squamous cell carcinoma based on the expression of the nuclear factor kappa B and cyclooxygenase 2 during epithelial dysplasia stage. Methods: This experimental study was performed on 35 Sprague Dawley rats at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Indonesia. At the beginning of the experiments, all rats were induced by 100 µg 0.5% 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene every 2 days for the duration of 28 days. Once epithelial dysplasia stage was reached, all rats were then randomly divided into control group (that did not receive curcumin) or the experimental group (the group that received curcumin for the next 4 weeks). After 4 weeks, the histopathological examination of haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry examination were conducted. Data were gathered and analyzed by using the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. Results: The results of the current study revealed that the experimental group showed significantly less nuclear factor kappa B (p < 0.01) and cyclooxygenase 2 (p = 0.03) expressions compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of the study suggested that curcumin was effective in suppressing nuclear factor kappa B and cyclooxygenase 2 expression in experimentally induced oral squamous cell carcinoma. Future studies investigating curcumin anti-cancer potential in a further stage of oral squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the involvement of other components that might improve curcumin anti-cancer potential, are of importance.

Effectiveness Of Curcumin In Oral Diseases: An Update

“…Curcumin has the capacity for anti-cancer in oral squamous cell carcinoma dependent on the expression of the nuclear factor kappa B and cyclooxygenase 2 through epithelial dysplasia (Maulina, 2019).…”

From Simple Mouth Cavities to Complex Oral Mucosal Disorders—Curcuminoids as a Promising Therapeutic Approach

“…The anticancer activity of curcumin was also explored in 7,12-dimethylbenz­(a)­anthracene-induced oral cancer rat models. It was concluded that the treated group showed a reduction in NF-κB and COX-2 expression as compared with the control . SCC-25 cells, when treated with curcumin, showed decreased cellular proliferation, invasion, and expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like, Twist, Snail, and E-cadherin with p53-induced suppression.…”

“…It was concluded that the treated group showed a reduction in NF-κB and COX-2 expression as compared with the control. 111 SCC-25 cells, when treated with curcumin, showed decreased cellular proliferation, invasion, and expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers like, Twist, Snail, and E-cadherin with p53-induced suppression. This study suggested curcumin to be an adjunctive regimen in the treatment and prevention of oral cancer metastasis.…”

“…Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors of the oral cavity associated with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. ,, It has become a major public health problem in Southeast Asia because of the habit of chewing tobacco, smoking, and the use of alcohol. − The oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) constitute more than 90% of oral cancers that originate from the squamous cell lining of the lip or oral cavity. , Though any abnormality in the oral cavity is easy to monitor, still most of the OSCC cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, which results in reduced overall and progression-free survival rates. , Accumulating evidence has implicated the usefulness of curcumin-based therapeutics in various in vitro and in vivo models of oral cancers. ,,− …”

Plant-Based Antioxidant Extracts and Compounds in the Management of Oral Cancer

“…A recent study reported that curcumin has an IC 50 value of 10 µM, which reduces the progression and migration of TSCC cells (squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue), inhibits tumorigenesis, and promotes apoptosis [ 70 ]. Curcumin was found to be effective in suppressing cyclooxygenase 2 ( p = 0.03) and NF-κB ( p < 0.01) expression in experimentally induced oral squamous cell carcinoma [ 71 ].…”