Selective cytotoxic activity of grape peel and seed extracts against oral tumor cell lines

Grape seed extracts were more cytotoxic than grape peel extracts. Methanol and 70% methanol extracts of grape seed selectively killed two human oral t umor cell lines, more efficiently than human gingival fibroblasts. ESR spec troscopy revealed that these extracts produced radicals under alkaline cond itions and enhanced the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate at higher con centrations. On the other hand, lower concentration of these extracts sligh tly reduced the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate and scavenged superox ide anion, generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction. These p roperties of grape seen extracts suggest their possible application for can cer prevention.