The Effects of the Supercritical Extracts of Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha on Oral Inflammation and Oral Cancer

Abstract

In this study, mixed extract samples (MPC-1–4) of natural plants, Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha, were prepared according to their respective extraction meth-ods, and the efficacy of these samples for treating oral inflammation and oral cancer was investigated. As a result of the cell proliferation inhibition experiment, all samples (MPC-1 to 4) decreased the proliferation of oral cancer cell MC3 and HN22 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.01). The survival rates of MPC-4 and MPC-1 were about 50% and about 80%, respectively, showing a difference according to the extraction method. In flow cytometry results, early apoptosis and late apoptosis of MPC-4 were 26.9% and 18.1%, respectively, indicating that apoptosis induction was the most effective. Although the induction effect was shown in other samples, the result was lower than that of MPC-4. As a result of confirming the regulation of the signaling pathway, it was confirmed that the expression of cleaved caspase 3 and Bak regulatory genes increased in a concentration-dependent manner in MC3 and HN22 cells (p < 0.01), thus inducing apoptosis in oral cancer cells. In addition, as a result of safety and Xenograft model experiments, it was found that MPC-4 had no toxicity to oral administration. These results suggest that the supercritical extract of Momordica charantia Linn., Pistacia lentiscus, and Commiphora myrrha can be applied as a preventive and therapeutic agent for oral mucosa inflammation and oral cancer.