General health benefits have been demonstrated by natural products. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) extract’s bioactivities have been reported in many studies such as antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, flaxseed extract has skin wound healing activity and potential for treating oral ulcers. Methodology: L. usitatissimum was extracted using 70% ethanol via soxhlet method, gas chromatography mass spectrum (GC-MS) was used to illustrate the components of L. usitatissimum extract. Human oral fibroblasts (HOrF) were cultured to be used for testing the activity of L. usitatissimum. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess the HOrF cells viability at different time point; 24, 48 and 72 hours. Wound healing assay was used to monitor the healing of HOrF cells after treating them with flaxseed extract. The results of the assay were obtained at 18, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Results: The results of GC-MS illustrate the major components present in L. usitatissimum extract. The effect of L. usitatissimum extract on HOrF cells show high proliferation effect at 24 and 48 hours while the highest proliferation effect was recorded at 72 hours’ post-treatment. Wound healing assay results show healing activity of L. usitatissimum extract on HOrF cells as fast as 18 hours’ post-treatment. Conclusion: L. usitatissimum extract have proliferating and healing effects on HOrF cell line. Therefore, it can be considered as a potential promising oral wound healing agent.

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma is reported as one of the most common types of cancer with increasing numbers of occurrence. Luvunga scandens is a plant possessing many bioactivities and general health effects, yet its anti-proliferative effect is under reported and need to be scientifically evaluated. Materials and Methods: MTT assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the plant against human squamous carcinoma cells in addition to the safety assessment for human dermal fibroblast cell line (HDF). The morphological changes of L. scandens treated squamous carcinoma cells has been confirmed by SEM, the apoptosis of the plant against squamous carcinoma cells has been tested using caspase 3/7 assay, followed by cell cycle analysis done using a flowcytometer on squamous carcinoma cells treated with the IC50 dose of L. scandens plant. Results: The plant's extract possesses cytotoxic effect against squamous carcinoma cells with IC50 readings; (methanol= 37.5 mg/mL, dichloromethane= 38 mg/mL, hexane= 37.5 mg/mL), and safe on HDF cells. The SEM results demonstrate that L. scandens treated cells showed an overall change in the cell shape, alteration of surface morphology, absence of microvilli and appearance of blebs. Caspase 3/7 assay results show that L. scandens dichloromethane extract produces the highest level of apoptosis against squamous carcinoma cells. For cell cycle analysis, all the L. scandens treated squamous carcinoma cells show high readings in the sub-G1 phase. Conclusion(s): This in vitro study has proved that L. scandens plant exhibit anti-proliferative effects against Squamous carcinoma cells, hence, it can be considered as a new promising potential anti-cancer therapy.