Effect of tocotrienols isomers on the viability of oral cancer cells (ORL-48): an MTT assay study

This study aimed to conduct an in vitro investigation to evaluate the viability of tocotrienol isomers (α, β, γ, δ) on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), specifically targeting the ORL-48 cell line, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The MTT assay is a widely used colorimetric assay for measuring the cytotoxic effects of potential medicinal or active compounds. Technical triplicates were employed in this study to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of the results. Among the tocotrienol isomers tested, γ-tocotrienol demonstrated significant viability inhibition, with an IC50 of 5.2 ± 1.4 µg/mL on the ORL-48 cell line. In contrast, the IC50 values for α, β, and δ tocotrienols were not determinable (ND), as their percentage of inhibition was less than 50%, indicating a lack of significant effect at the tested concentrations. These findings suggest that γ-tocotrienol has potential as an antiproliferative agent against oral cancer cells (ORL-48). Its significant activity underscores the need for further functional studies to better understand its mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic roles in future cancer treatment. Future research should focus on elucidating the molecular pathways effects of γ-tocotrienol and exploring its.