Anticancer Effect of Plectranthus Amboinicus and Glycyrrhiza Glabra on Oral Cancer Cell Line: An Invitro Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oral cancer is a commonly encountered type of cancer with multifactorial etiology. The number of oral cancer cases are increasing in the recent past. Advancements in cancer therapy are continuously evolving. In spite of that, the survival rate is very low along with adverse effects associated with each treatment modality. This poses a need for a constant search for newer or alternative treatment options. Herbal medicines or plant-based medicines are derived from plant sources. Evidence supports that incorporating herbal medicines in cancer therapy offers many advantages. Hence, exploring plant species for anticarcinogenic properties can potentially benefit cancer therapy. Studies show that the two medicinal herbs Plectranthus amboinicus (Indian borage, Karpooravalli) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice, Athimathuram) have shown excellent anticancer activity on various cancers. The present study aimed to evaluate and assess the anticancer property of two medicinal plants Plectranthus amboinicus (Indian borage, Karpooravalli) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice, Athimathuram) on oral cancer (KB) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanolic extracts of leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus and roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra were prepared. The oral cancer (KB) cell line was procured and cultured. Cell viability (MTT) assay was performed using various concentrations of both the plant extracts on oral cancer cells. The percentage of cell viability for each concentration was calculated and the IC50 value was derived for the two plant extracts. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant decrease in the percentage of viable cells with increasing concentration of the extracts. The IC50 values of Plectranthus amboinicus and Glycyrrhiza glabra were 53.0 µg/ml and 43.6 µg/ml respectively. On comparing the anticancer effect of the two extracts, Glycyrrhiza glabra was more cytotoxic than Plectranthus amboinicus on oral cancer (KB) cells. CONCLUSION: The two medicinal plants Plectranthus amboinicus and Glycyrrhiza glabra exhibited potent anticancer activity against oral cancer (KB) cells.

Evaluation of antifungal activity of vanilla pods silver nanoparticles against various oral candidal species: An in-vitro study.

Background: The oral health of individuals is undoubtedly affected by the fact that fungal microorganisms are currently resistant to the conventional antifungal drugs used. Still, there are numerous emerging therapeutic alternatives available like phytotherapy. The phytochemistry of various plant species has indicated that phytochemicals could be a better source of medicine with outstanding antifungal, healing, anti-inflammatory spectrum, and antioxidant properties. Aim: To evaluate the antifungal efficacy of silver nanoparticles of vanilla pods against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei and to compare with Fluconazole. Materials and Methods: The vanilla pods were procured from the organic store. The aqueous extracts were prepared. Ten percent of the vanilla extract was utilized to generate the silver nanoparticles. The generated silver nanoparticles were characterized visually based on color change and confirmed by UV spectroscopy. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antifungal activity of the vanilla pods reinforced silver nanoparticles at different concentrations (20 µl, 40 µ, 40n µ, and 80 µand 80ratioC. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei. The antifungal efficacy of the produced nanoparticles was evaluated against a standard of ketoconazole (30 µ30. Results: Vanillin silver nanoparticles exhibit commendable antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. glabrata which is equivalent to that of ketoconazole, and amplified activity against drug-resistant C. krusei was evident. Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles from vanilla pods were studied and their wider zones of inhibition indicated exemplary antifungal efficacy compared with conventional antifungal drugs like ketoconazole. Clinical significance: Future research on vanillin nanocarrier systems might enhance their stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity. As an outcome, with some promising advances in this area, it would be captivating to pursue a systematic investigation into the potential effects of vanillin at the cellular and molecular levels. This will enable us to further assess its applicability as an active biopharmaceutical ingredient in mouthwashes, probiotic lozenges, and denture resin for use as an effective strategy against the biofilm growth of various Candida species.