Aim: To evaluate the apoptotic effect of Cardamom oil on laryngeal cancer cells in comparison to Doxorubicin which could give insight for a new approach of therapy for Head and Neck cancer.
Methods: A subcultured Hep-2 cell line was placed into five study groups: a control group, a group exposed to Cardamom oil for 24 hours, another group subjected to Cardamom oil for 48 hours and the other two groups treated with DOX for the same time intervals. The percentage of cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Apoptosis analysis was assessed using Flow Cytometry represented by dot plots. Apoptosis indicator BAX was also measured by means of ELISA assay for each group. Furthermore, cells were morphologically examined using the inverted phase microscope.
Results: Cardamom oil reduced the percentage of viable cells with increasing dose. A gradual increase in the percentage of dead cells in the Cardamom oil and DOX treated groups was revealed with increasing time of treatment from 24 hours to 48 hours. Levels of BAX were elevated in all treated groups of Cardamom oil and DOX with the highest level observed in DOX (48 hours) group and the lowest levels recorded in the control group. Moreover, cultured cells under the inverted phase microscope showed signs of apoptosis which increased as duration of treatment increased.
Conclusions: Cardamom oil has a time-dependent apoptotic effect on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and exerts its action through enhancement of BAX which is a crucial molecule in the apoptotic process.