Purpose: To assess the antioxidant and antineoplastic effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.
Materials and Methods: Human squamous cell carcinoma HSCC cells were tested for cytotoxicity by a methanol extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (MEHSP). After 24, 48, and 72 h, the MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion test were used to determine cell survival and death. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), DNA Protection Assay (DPA), and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAPA) measured the antioxidant activity of MEHSP.
Results: The antioxidant activity (%) ranged from 47.92-82.24 in the DPPH test, 11.61-73.65 in the DPA, and 4.97-52.09 in the FRAPA. The HSCC in-vitro cytotoxicity assay showed dose- and time-dependent cell viability. MEHSP at 5 μg/ml inhibited viable cells, while increasing MEHSP doses decreased cell viability. The Trypan blue exclusion test showed that MEHSP significantly reduced cell viability at 24, 48, and 72 h.
Conclusion:Hibiscus sabdariffa contains antioxidant and HSCC-cytotoxic properties.