Targeted Apoptosis Induction in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Goniothalamus umbrosus: A Pathway Through Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase 3

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies of head and neck cancer associated with severe morbidity and high mortality rates. While conventional treatment modalities are effective in eliminating cancer cells, they frequently result in adverse side effects. Research continues to explore plant-based therapeutics with selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. <i>Goniothalamus umbrosus</i> is traditionally used among medicinal folks and has shown potential in its anticancer properties. This study aims to explore the role of <i>G. umbrosus</i> hexane extract (GUHE) in inducing apoptosis by elucidating its mechanism of action in OSCC (HSC-3) while comparing its effect on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells.The expression of proapoptotic gene (Bax) and antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2) in HSC-3 and HGF cell lines that had been pretreated with GUHE was evaluated by RT-qPCR. The activity of caspase-3 protein was quantified by ELISA assay.RT-qPCR analysis revealed that GUHE significantly upregulated the <i>Bax</i> expression by 1.69-fold and downregulated <i>Bcl-2</i> expression by 42% in the HSC-3 cell line. The activity of caspase-3 protein was significantly increased in HSC-3 treated with GUHE. The expression of <i>Bax</i> and <i>Bcl-2</i> genes and caspase-3 protein activity was not significantly modulated in GUHE-treated HGF.GUHE selectively induced apoptosis by activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the HSC-3 cell line without being detrimental to the HGF cell line. This highlights its promising effect as a targeted therapeutic agent for OSCC therapy.