Anticancer potential of yohimbine in drug-resistant oral cancer KB-ChR-8–5 cells

Background The demand for environmentally friendly and cost-effective plant-based products for the development of cancer therapeutics has been increasing. Yohimbine (α 2 -adrenergic receptor antagonist) is a stimulant and aphrodisiac used to improve erectile dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of yohimbine in drug-resistant oral cancer KB-ChR-8–5 cells using different biomolecular techniques. Methods We estimated the anticancer efficacy of yohimbine using different assays, such as MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cell cytotoxicity, cell morphology, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and modulation in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Results Yohimbine showed a dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of 44 µM against KB-ChR-8–5 cancer cell lines. Yohimbine treatment at 40 µM and 50 µM resulted in a considerable change in cell morphology, including shrinkage, detachment, membrane blebbing, and deformed shape. Moreover, at the dose of IC 50 and above, a significant induction was observed in the generation of ROS and depolarization of MMP. The possible mechanisms of action of yohimbine underlying the dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity may be due to the induction of apoptosis, ROS generation, and modulation of MMP. Conclusion Overall, yohimbine showed a significant anticancer potential against drug-resistant oral cancer KB-ChR-8–5 cells. Our study suggests that besides being an aphrodisiac, yohimbine can be used as a drug repurposing agent. However, more research is required in different in vitro and in vivo models to confirm the feasibility of yohimbine in clinics.