Malaysian Tualang Honey Kills Cancer Cells

Antiproliferative Effect of Tualang Honey on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Osteosarcoma Cancer Cell Lines
BMC Complement Altern Med, 2010 Sep 14;10(1):49

Background: The treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and human osteosarcoma (HOS) includes surgery and/or radiotherapy which often leads to reduced quality of life. This study was aimed to study the antiproliferative activity of local honey (Tualang) on OSCC and HOS cell lines.

Methods: Several concentrations of Tualang honey (1% - 20%) were applied on the OSCC and HOS cell lines for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Morphological characteristics were observed under light and fluorescent microscope. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay and the optical density for absorbance values in each experiment was measured at 570 nm by an ELISA reader. Detection of cellular apoptosis was done using the Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit.

Results: Morphological appearance showed apoptotic cellular changes like becoming rounded, reduction in cell number, blebbed membrane and apoptotic nuclear changes like nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and fragmented nucleus on OSCC and HOS cell lines. Cell viability assay showed a time and dose dependent inhibitory effect of honey on both cell lines. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for OSCC and HOS cell lines was found to be 4% and 3.5% respectively. The maximum inhibition of cell growth of [greater than or equal to] 80% was obtained at 15% for both cell lines. Early apoptosis was evident by flow cytometry where percentage of early apoptotic cells increased in dose and time dependent manner.

Conclusion: Tualang honey showed antiproliferative effect on OSCC and HOS cell lines by inducing early apoptosis.