Effects of chrysin on the apoptosis in oral squamous carcinoma KB cell line and the underlying mechanisms / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

To investigate the effect of chrysin on apoptosis of oral squamous carcinoma KB cell line and the possible mechanisms, and to provide new ideas for the treatment of oral cancer.
 Methods: Oral cancer KB cells were treated with different concentrations of chrysin (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 μmol/L) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was detected by MMT assay; apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; the activity of caspase-3/7 was detected by chemiluminescent assay; mitochondrial membrane potential in KB cells was determined by JC-1 assay; and Western blotting was used to determine the activation of protein kinase B (AKT) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K).
 Results: Chrysin inhibited the proliferation of KB cells in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by increase in apoptosis of KB cells, activation of caspase-3/7, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and suppression of the phosphorylation of AKT and PI3K.
 Conclusion: The effect of chrysin on KB cell apoptosis may be related to mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway.