Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of artichoke and fennel extracts as a natural agent against OSCC cell line (OECM-1).

Methods:Two hundred gm of Artichoke leaves were soaked in ethanol solution 50% for 48 h at 4 °C to obtain ethanolic extract. One hundred fifty gm of Fennel seeds were soaked in 1.5 L in ethanol solution 75% for 48 h at 4 °C. Calculation of IC50 for each group was determined based on the concentration-response curves of analyzed cellular metabolic activity. Then the exact concentration of IC50 was used. Assessment of the apoptosis in cancer cells was done by staining the cell lysate using the Alexa Fluor® 488 annexin V/Dead Cell Apoptosis Kit for flowcytometry, Catalog. V13241, Invitrogen, ThermoFisher, UK.

Results: The study revealed a cytotoxic effect of Artichoke at IC50 concentration (0.425±0.032μg/mL) and (0.769±0.041μg/mL) for Fennel seeds, and a high significant difference between the IC50 of the two extracts (t=11.52, p<0.0003). Meanwhile, a highly significant difference was detected between the % of apoptotic cells after treatment with Artichoke and Fennel seeds compared to untreated cells (p<0.0001), no significant difference was detected between the % of apoptotic cells in OSCC treated with Artichoke when compared to cells treated with Fennel seeds.

Conclusion: Both artichoke and fennel seeds induced apoptosis and had cytotoxic impacts on the cancer cells. They could become a promising field for further research in cancer therapy.