Quercetin induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis, reduces metastasis and drug resistance in oral cancer cells

Abstract Quercetin is a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols or can also be formulated as a synthetic supplement chemically. Approximately 80 % of people in Africa and other developing nations still depend on traditional herbal remedies to treat ailments. Quercetin has been demonstrated to have a variety of anticancer effects. However, the effect of quercetin on oral cancer cells remains rare. According to our systematic review, quercetin includes anti-cell viability, anti-cell survival and anti-cell proliferation. Quercetin also possesses an anti-metastatic effect by regulating the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related genes in oral cancer cells. The apoptotic effect of quercetin in oral cancer cells is probably via inducing cell surface death receptors, endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondria-mediated signaling pathways. Additionally, quercetin reduces drug resistance in KB/vincristine oral cancer cells and enhances cell sensitivity to vincristine treatment. Quercetin induces apoptosis of human oral cancer SAS cells through the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria-mediated signaling pathways. Quercetin inhibits cell survival and metastatic ability via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-mediated signaling pathways in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Quercetin is an anti-tumour agent candidate and can also inhibit oral tumour metastasis. Indeed, the efficacy of quercetin against chemically induced oral squamous cell carcinoma remains to be elucidated.