Journal of Toxicology 
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 634868, 8 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/634868
Research Article

Cytotoxic Effect of the Genus Sinularia Extracts on Human SCC25 and HaCaT Cells

Guey-Horng Wang,1 Tzung-Han Chou,1 Rong-Jyh Lin,2 Jyh-Horng Sheu,3 Shih-Hao Wang,4 and Chia-Hua Liang1

 1Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 717, Taiwan
2Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
3Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
4Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
Received 14 February 2008; Revised 2 June 2008; Accepted 4 July 2008

Recommended by Peter O'Brien

Abstract

Soft corals of the genus Sinularia are being increasingly adopted to treat a wide variety of disease processes. However, the mechanism underlying its activity against human oral cancer cells is poorly understood. This study evaluates the cyototoxicity effects of the genus Sinularia extracts (S. grandilobata, S. parva, S. triangula, S. scabra, S. nanolobata and S. gibberosa) by SCC25 and HaCaT cells. The cell adhesion assay indicates that extracts reduce the cell attachment. Extracts exhibit a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect using MTS assay.Treatment of extracts to observe the morphological alterations in cells, membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, and apoptotic bodies is demonstrated. Flow cytometry shows that extracts sensitized the cells in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases with a concomitant significantly increased sub-G1 fraction, suggesting cell death by apoptosis. Extracts of the genus Sinularia thus apparently cause apoptosis of SCC25 and HaCaT cells, and warrant further research investigating the possible antioral cancer compounds in these soft corals.