Eurycoma longifolia extract inhibits cell migration of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: Eurycoma longifolia is a medicinal plant found in South East Asia and has been wildly used as anti-diabetic, antimalarial, antimicrobial and anti-pyretic drug. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of E. longifolia extract on cancer cell migration, which is one of the malignant behavior.
Methods: The HN22, metastatic phenotype of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, were treated with E. longifolia extract and the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The expression of MMP-13 was analysed by RT-PCR and ELISA. Wound healing assay were used to measure the cell migration. Statistical differences were assessed using ANOVA at significance level of 0.05.
Results: E.longifolia extract at the concentration of 100µg/ml causes about 60% reduction of cell number. E. longifolia at 50µg/ml significantly suppressed MMP-13 mRNA expression and secreted MMP-13. Moreover, E. longifolia drastically inhibited cell migration cells in a wound healing assay.
Conclusions: These results suggest E. longifolia as the alternative drug for prevent metastatic of HNSCC.