Chemopreventive potential of Styrax liquidus in a DMBA-induced oral squamous cell carcinoma model

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a significant global health concern, and preventive strategies limited. Natural products with antioxidant and chemopreventive properties have been increasingly investigated as potential agents to reduce cancer risk. Styrax liquidus is a resinous balsam derived from the Liquidambar orientalis Miller tree that has been used to treat a variety of diseases across civilizations. It is known to be used to treat skin diseases, neurovascular diseases, heart diseases and cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate the chemopreventive effects of Styrax liquidus on a 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat oral squamous cell carcinoma model, as well as its impact on antioxidant defense mechanisms.The in vitro antioxidant efficacy (83.44% at 10 mg/ml), radical scavenging activity, and phenolic component content of L. orientalis Miller were determined. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups (control, DMBA, S+DMBA, and S). The inhibitory effect of L. orientalis Miller on carcinomatous changes was evaluated histopathologically, and antioxidant defense mechanisms were investigated biochemically and immunohistochemically. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, the Kruskall-Wallis test, post hoc Tukey and Bonferroni adjusted Mann-Whitney U tests and Fisher’s Exact test. Level of significance was p < 0.05. Styrax inhibited catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed no invasive alterations in the connective tissue. According to the histopathological results, Styrax liquidus suppressed carcinomatous changes in the epithelium induced by DMBA. Styrax liquidus showed significant chemopreventive activity in this experimental animal model. Although antioxidant parameters were evaluated, the results of this study alone do not provide sufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions regarding the underlying mechanisms of its chemopreventive activity. Additional studies investigating these mechanisms are needed to clarify the molecular pathways responsible for these effects.