Apoptotic effect of β-pinene on oral squamous cell carcinoma as one of the major compounds from essential oil of medicinal plant <i>Piper rivinoides</i> Kunth

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck malignancy. Research on essential oils (EOs) has shown important cytotoxic and anti-tumor properties, among others. Piperaceae species are rich in EOs and here we highlight <i>Piper rivinoides</i> Kunth. We investigated the crude EOs from <i>P. rivinoides</i>, their pure major constituents and an enriched fraction with the main EO compounds (EF) as cytotoxic and selective OSCC agents. EOs presented as main compounds (-)-α-pinene, (-)-β-pinene and limonene. EOs showed an IC₅₀ lower than all isolated compounds, except for (-)-β-pinene in OSCC cells. The (-)-β-pinene induced cell death with apoptotic characteristics. Commercial standards showed greater selectivity than EOs, and (-)-β-pinene was the most selective among them. EF showed higher selectivity compared to crude EOs and carboplatin, turning it into a good candidate as an anticancer fraction. These results are important for the possible development of new treatments for OSCC.