Mechanism of apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma promoted by cardamonin through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Abstract Currently, surgical resection remains the primary approach for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with limited options for effective drug therapy. Cardamonin, a principal compound derived from Myristica fragrans of the Zingiberaceae family, has garnered attention for its potential to suppress the onset and progression of various malignancies encompassing breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ovarian cancers. Nevertheless, the involvement of cardamonin in the treatment of OSCC and its underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. This research explored the possible target of cardamonin in treating OSCC via network pharmacological analysis. Subsequently, this research investigated the impact of cardamonin on OSCC cells via in vitro experiments, revealing its capacity to impede the migration, proliferation, and invasion of OSCC cells. Additionally, western blotting analysis demonstrated that cardamonin facilitates apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. The findings suggest that MMP9 and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may serve as the target and pathway of cardamonin in treating OSCC. To summarize, the research findings suggest that cardamonin may facilitate apoptosis in OSCC cells by inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway activation. These outcomes offer a theoretical basis for the utilization of cardamonin as a natural drug for treating OSCC.