Resveratrol induces apoptosis of KB human oral cancer cells

Abstract

Resveratrol (trans-3,4′s,5,-trihydroxystilbene), a phytoalexin present in grape skin and red wine, suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of resveratrol on oral cancer are not completely understood. Thus, effects of resveratrol on cell growth and apoptosis induction were examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, DNA fragmentation, immunoblotting, and determination of caspase activation in KB human oral cancer cells. Treatment with resveratrol induced inhibition of cell growth depending on the resveratrol treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Treatment with resveratrol induced DNA ladder formation in KB cells and promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3 and procaspase-7 with increases in the amount of cleaved caspases-3 and -7. Proteolytic processing of caspase-9 in KB cells was increased by resveratrol treatment. Activation of caspase-3/-7 was detected in living KB cells by fluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that the resveratrol can suppress cell growth and induce cell apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and may have potential as an anti-cancer drug.