Abstract: Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of scutellarin on the apoptosis of human tongue squamous carcinoma Tca8113 cells. Methods Human tongue squamous carcinoma Tca8113 cells were divided into control group and scutellarin groups (80, 120 and 160 mg/L). Tunel method was used to detect the apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay was used to detect the caspase-8 protein expression of cells. Results （1）The apoptotic rates of Tca8113 cells were significantly high in scutellarin groups (80, 120 and 160 mg/L) than those in control group [(17.63 ± 0.25)%, (36.23±0.36)%, (51.84±0.58)% vs (4.45±0.27)%, P < 0.05].（2） Compared with control group, the expressions of caspase-8 protein were significantly increased in different concentrations (80, 120 and 160 mg/L) of scutellarin groups (0.283±0.040 vs 0.474±0.031, 0.592±0.077, 0.781±0.020， P < 0.05). Conclusion Scutellarin could obviously induce the apoptosis of human tongue squamous carcinoma Tca8113 cells, which may be related to the caspase-8 protein expression.

Key words: tongue neoplasms, apoptosis,  , caspase-8,  , Scutellarin, Tca8113