Effect of Shikonin on human oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell proliferation and apoptosis

PURPOSE:To investigate the effects of Shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell line in vitro.METHODS:Inhibitory effect of Shikonin was determined by MTT assay,the morphological changes of the cancer cells were examined under light and electron microscopes,the DNA ladder and Flow cytometric analysis was performed to detect the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis.The data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA test and t test using SPSS12.0 software package.RESULTS:Shikonin treatment inhibited the growth of Tca8113 cell lines in a time and dose-dependent manner ranging from 0 to 50 μmol/L(P0.01),blebbing nuclei,granular apoptotic bodies and characteristic DNA ladder appeared after treatment.Flow cytometric analysis showed a progressive increase in the percentage of cells with subdiploid DNA content and high apoptosis rate in treated Tca8113 cells(P0.01).CONCLUSIONS:Shikonin could effectively inhibit the proliferation of Tca8113 cell lines and induce apoptosis and may be useful as a new cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent for OSCC.