Investigating the Cytotoxic Effects of Artemisia absinthium Extract on Oral Carcinoma Cell Line

<b>Background:</b><i>Artemisia absinthium (A. absinthium)</i>, commonly known as absinthe, is a perennial plant with distinctive broad ovate pointed leaves of a silvery-gray color, reaching a height of 1.5 m. The utilization of this herb as a source of natural compounds and as the primary ingredient in the alcoholic beverage absinthe has recently seen a resurgence following a period of prohibition. This study investigates the biological effects of <i>A. absinthium</i> extract on healthy human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and the human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (HSC-3). <b>Methods:</b><i>A. absinthium</i> element characterization was performed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the Folin method. Alizarin assays evaluated the osteogenic capacity of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLSCs) while CCK-8 and MTT determined the cytotoxicity of the extract against HSC-3 and hPDLSCs. <b>Results:</b> High artemisinin levels were detected, revealing a concentration of 89 μM (25 μg/mL). The total phenolic concentration of the extract was 1.07 mM +/- 0.11. The in vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed the biocompatible profile of the <i>Artemisia</i> extract in hPDLSCs without exhibiting any osteogenic potential. After 24 h of incubation with HSC-3, <i>Artemisia</i> extract (10 µM) decreased cancer cell viability by 99% and artemisinin by 64%, and increased the expression of Caspase 3 and 9 almost six and two times, respectively. <b>Conclusions:</b> In summary, our preliminary findings suggest that <i>A. absinthium</i> extract exhibits a toxic effect against carcinoma cell lines without affecting healthy human periodontal ligament stem cells.