Sinuleptolide inhibits proliferation of oral cancer Ca9-22 cells involving apoptosis, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.

OBJECTIVE: Sinuleptolide, a soft corals-derived bioactive norditerpenoid, is a marine natural product with a potent anti-inflammatory effect. We evaluate the potential anti-oral cancer effects of sinuleptolide and investigate the possible mechanisms involved. DESIGNS: Cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and DNA damage analyses were performed. RESULTS: In a cell viability assay, we found that sinuleptolide is dose-responsively antiproliferative against oral gingival cancer Ca9-22 cells but less harmful to normal human gingival fibroblast (HGF-1) cells (P<0.001). In cell cycle analysis, sinuleptolide induced subG1 accumulation at a higher dose and led to G2/M arrest of Ca9-22 cells (P<0.005). Apoptosis was significantly increased in sinuleptolide-treated Ca9-22 cells based on annexin V and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expressions (P<0.05-0.0001). Based on flow cytometer analysis, sinuleptolide also induced the generation of ROS and decreased MMP in a dose-responsive manner (P<0.05-0.0001). DNA damage increased dose-responsively after sinuleptolide treatments (P < 0.001) based on comet and gammaH2AX assays. CONCLUSION: Sinuleptolide can induce an antiproliferation of oral cancer Ca9-22 cells involving apoptosis, oxidative stress and DNA damage, suggesting that sinuleptolide represents a potential chemotherapeutic drug for oral cancer treatment.