An invitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity and p53-mediated apoptotic effect of ocimum sanctum leaves hexane extract on human oral cancer cell lines

Background Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Florae have been inspiration of salutary sources for curing ailments since ages. Hence, the contemporary investigation was aimed at evaluating the anti-proliferative activity of extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves on oral cancer KB mouth cell line.
Methods Extract preparation using soxhlet apparatus, DPPH assay for antioxidant activity, Anticancer activity and western blotting for p53 expression.
Results The obtained results showed that the methanol and hexane extracts of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) showed better activity in DPPH assay when compared with the rest. In anticancer activity against KB cell line and cytotoxicity activity in L132 cell line which was carried out by MTT assay; Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) Hexane extract showed IC50 value of 74.39 for KB cell line and IC50 value of 431.39 for L132 cell line. The expression of p53 gene in KB cell line showed increased level of p53 denotes its upregulation has a cascade effect on regulation of apoptosis.
Conclusion Thus substantiating the claim that it has evidenced anti oral cancer potential, which is promising but needs additional wet lab validations and characterization to isolate the phyto molecule and qualify it as a potential lead.This promising lead could be further taken up for bio activity studies of the purified phytomolecules from the plant for in vivo testing as a potential safe herbal based alternative therapeutics for oral cancer.