The Egyptian apricot, or Prunus Armeniaca, is a member of the Rosaceae family of plants and has many beneficial compounds, such as amygdalin, polyphenols, fatty acids, and carotenoids. This research aims to assess the anticancer effects of PA extract on OSCC. The OSCC cell line (Scc-25) of human tongue was cultured for 24 hours in DMEM and PA extract was obtained from Giza governorate. Apoptosis, necrosis, cell cycle analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-3 and -8 activity, and cytotoxicity tests were conducted to determine the most effective extract. PA induced more apoptosis than staurosporine in OSCC cells, with caspase-3 and -8 levels significantly higher in group-1 than in group-II.

Cell cycle analysis showed 7.7-fold higher apoptosis and necrosis in group-1 than in group-2, with an IC50 of 6.83 ug/ml. Apoptosis-inhibiting gene expression has been linked to an increase in cell survival, and novel cancer studies focus on apoptosis dysregulation as the first step in the carcinogenic process. PA has been shown to be less cytotoxic than Straurosporine. Amygdalin in apricot and peach kernel extracts has anti-proliferative effects on human colon cancer cells, suggesting potential as an anti-cancer drug. Apricots have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities, as well as anti-inflammatory and apoptosis effects.