This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial and anticancer effects of Galla Rhois (GR) on pathogens isolated from oral and KB human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells. Their antimicrobial activities were tested against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterobacter aerogenes (E. aerogenes), Escherichia coli (E. coil) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). GR powder has the antimicrobial activity against C. albicans, S. mutans and S. aureus. The extracts of water and ethanol have the antimicrobial activity against S. sureus and C. albicans. The water extract showed inhibitory activity against the growth and pH of above mentioned reference microorganisms. The water extract of GR declined cell viability in a dose dependent manner. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed that population of sub-G0/G₁, phase of cell cycle was increased by GR extract treatment in a dose dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that Caspase-3 was reduced by GR extract treatment. These result suggested that GR has the effect of antimicrobial on pathogens isolated from oral, and also, has anticancer effect that associated with the induction of apoptosis in a dose dependent manner in KB human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells. It may be GR-induced apoptosis was mediated via activation of Caspase-3.
