Apoptotic and Anti-Proliferative Effects of Licorice Extract (Licochalcone A) and Paclitaxel Chemotherapy on Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is considered the most common human body malignant tumor. It has poor prognosis regarding its distant lymph node metastasis and local destruction which lead to low survival rate. Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic drug of the taxols group that is used in the treatment of lung, ovarian and prostate cancer. It is also used to treat breast, head and neck cancer as well as sarcoma and leukemia. Recent studies and researches explored that Paclitaxel has an important role in mitotic arrest activation and induction, which subsequently lead to cell death. The conventional treatment strategies such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy come with low levels of expectations regarding prognosis and survival rate. On the other hand, serious side effects of chemotherapy such as renal toxicity, gastrointestinal upset and bone marrow suppression remain hazards which cannot be avoided.Thus, there is a great need to discover new agents and strategies for treating OSCC or even enhancing the effect of chemotherapy in order to reduce the dose given. Licorice extract, Licochalcone A, is one of many natural extracts of Glycyrrhiza inflata plant. It has been used in treatment of inflammation, infections and cancer.