Ethyl Acetate Extract of Pandanus conoideus Lam. Induces Apoptosis in HSC-3 cell Dicha Yuliadewi Rahmawati1**, Wita Anggraini2, Moehamad Orliando Roeslan2, Hsinwei Yang4, Hernindya Dwifulqi5, Melanie S Djamil2
1 Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Maranatha Christian University - Indonesia
2 Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti - Indonesia
3DDS, Chung Shan Medical University-Taiwan
5Department of Advanced Material, Faculty of Dentistry, Maranatha Christian University - Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Dicha Yuliadewi Rahmawati, Email: dicha.yr[at]dent.maranatha.edu
Abstract
Background: Oral squamous carcinoma is a malignancy of the head and neck region, accounting for 90% of all oral cancers. Ongoing research aims to identify therapies with low cytotoxic concentrations to reduce morbidity in patients with tongue carcinoma. The red fruit plant (Pandanus conoideus Lam.) is believed to possess anticancer properties due to its antiproliferative activity. The high antioxidant content in red fruit can neutralize and disrupt free radicals that contain carcinogenic compounds. Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether red fruit ethyl acetate extract can induce apoptosis in HSC-3 cell lines by activating the intracellular signaling pathway of the caspase-3 target protein. Method: The HSC-3 cell line was treated with red fruit ethyl acetate extract at concentrations of 10 μ-g/mL, 20 μ-g/mL, and 40 μ-g/mL, with an exposure time of 6 hours. Doxorubicin was used as a positive control, β--actin as a positive control and internal loading control, and DMSO as a negative control. Apoptosis induction was determined using the western blot technique to observe the expression of the caspase-3 target protein. Results: Target protein activation was observed at a concentration of 10 μ-g/mL with a total protein band density of 433.891. At a concentration of 40 μ-g/mL, a significantly dense band was observed, with the amount of cleaved caspase-3 protein at 1238.128, compared to the positive control doxorubicin at 1314.281. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate extract of red fruit (Pandanus conoideus Lam.) is capable of inducing apoptosis in a concentration- and exposure time-dependent manner via caspase-3 in the HSC-3 cell line.
