Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Materials Today: Proceedings 16 (2019) 2197–2203 www.materialstoday.com/proceedings 2214-7853 © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of Biomedical and Advanced Materials (Biocam 2017). Bio-CAM 2017 Preliminary investigations of anti-cancer properties of Myrmecodia Pendens on human oral cancer HSC-3 cell lines Nining Irfanita b , Shah Eddie a , N. A. Aziz a , Solachuddin J.A Ichwan a , Widya Lestari a * a Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota 25200, Pahang, Kuantan, Malaysia b International Institute for Halal Research and Training, International Islamic University Malaysia, P.O Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Abstract Myrmecodia pendens (M. pendens) or also known as Sarang semut is an epiphytic plant which might have potential as a new source of alternative therapeutic agent. Recently, it is reported that M. pendens can inhibit the proliferation of HeLa and MCM- B2 cell lines. We report here for the first time the anti-cancer potential of M. pendens on oral cancer cells derived from human oral cavity, HSC-3 cell lines. MTT assay results showed that M. pendens crude extract markedly induced cytotoxicity on HSC-3 cell lines after 24 h (IC50 = 5 mg/mL) and 48 h (IC50 = 3 mg/ml). The apoptotic activity induced by M. pendens was detected in HSC-3 cell lines by flow cytometry within 24 h. These results suggest that M. pendens may be a potential candidate for oral cancer treatment. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and/or Peer-review under responsibility of Biomedical and Advanced Materials (Biocam 2017). Keywords: Sarang semut; Myrmecodia pendens; cytotoxicity; apoptosis; HSC-3 cell lines 1. Introduction Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a predominant type of oral cancer which affects the oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx. The major risk factors of OSCC include smoking and heavy alcohol consumption [1]. In 2012, the global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers (newly diagnosed) was 529 500 while an estimated 292 300 cancer deaths were reported [2]. By 2030, oral cancer is projected to escalate by 62% to 856,000 cases [3]. Oral squamous cell carcinoma can be treated by radiation, surgery and/or chemotherapy. There are a few * Corresponding author. Tel.: +6095702950; fax: +6095705580. E-mail address: drwidya@iium.edu.my