[Effects of chrysin on the apoptosis in oral squamous carcinoma KB cell line and the underlying mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of chrysin on apoptosis of oral squamous carcinoma KB cell line and the possible mechanisms, and to provide new ideas for the treatment of oral cancer.
 Methods: Oral cancer KB cells were treated with different concentrations of chrysin (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 μmol/L) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was detected by MMT assay; apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; the activity of caspase-3/7 was detected by chemiluminescent assay; mitochondrial membrane potential in KB cells was determined by JC-1 assay; and Western blotting was used to determine the activation of protein kinase B (AKT) and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K).
 Results: Chrysin inhibited the proliferation of KB cells in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by increase in apoptosis of KB cells, activation of caspase-3/7, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and suppression of the phosphorylation of AKT and PI3K.
 Conclusion: The effect of chrysin on KB cell apoptosis may be related to mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway.