大量研究已经证明天然产品的功效和安全性，并被广泛用作有吸引力的癌症治疗方法。研究有效的天然产物以改善癌症治疗是一个有前景的策略。放射增敏剂和放射治疗 (RT) 的联合治疗被认为是头颈鳞状细胞癌 (HNSCC) 治疗改善的必要条件。本研究旨在探讨麻黄 (ES) 提取物是否可以诱导癌细胞选择性死亡，并作为一种治疗手段。 HNSCC 的放射增敏剂。放射前用 ES 提取物预处理 HNSCC 细胞，并使用集落形成测定法评估放射增敏活性。使用annexinV-FITC 测定评估辐射诱导的细胞死亡。进行蛋白质印迹以确认细胞死亡相关基因的表达，包括细胞凋亡和坏死标记。 ES 提取物显着抑制 HNSCC 细胞活力（FaDu 和 SNU1076），而对正常 HaCaT 细胞的影响最小。当 HNSCC 细胞接受 2、4 或 8 Gy 照射并用 ES 提取物 (25 μg/mL) 培养时，与未处理的细胞相比，它们表现出更高的辐射敏感性。与未处理、ES 处理或辐射的细胞相比，ES 提取物和辐射的组合导致细胞死亡增加。联合治疗后，凋亡标记物 BAX 和坏死标记物 p-MLKL 的表达水平也有所升高。 ES 提取物在 HNSCC 细胞中表现出显着的细胞毒性潜力，而不影响正常细胞。它通过上调 BAX 和 p-MLKL 表达来增强 HNSCC 细胞的放射敏感性，从而导致细胞死亡增加。这些结果表明 ES 提取物在 HNSCC 中表现出潜在的放射增敏能力。版权所有 © Bentham Science Publishers；如有任何疑问，请发送电子邮件至 epub@benthamscience.net。

Numerous studies have proven the efficacy and safety of natural products and are widely used as attractive cancer treatments. Investigation of effective natural products for improving cancer treatment is promising strategy. Combination treatment with radiosensitizers and radiotherapy(RT) is considered necessary for therapeutic improvement in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).This study aimed to investigate whether Ephedra sinica (ES) extract could induce selective cell death in cancer cells and serve as a radiosensitizer for HNSCC.HNSCC cells were pretreated with ES extract before radiation, and the radiosensitizing activity was assessed using a colony formation assay. Radiation-induced cell death was evaluated using an annexinV-FITC assay. Western blotting was performed to confirm cell death-related gene expression, including apoptosis and necrosis markers.ES extract significantly inhibited HNSCC cell viability (FaDu and SNU1076), while having minimal effect on normal HaCaT cells. When HNSCC cells were irradiated with 2, 4, or 8 Gy and cultured with ES extract (25 μg/mL), they exhibited increased radiation sensitivity compared to non-treated cells. The combination of ES extract and radiation resulted in increased cell death compared to non-treated, ES-treated, or irradiated cells. The expression levels of the apoptosis marker BAX and necrosis marker p-MLKL were also elevated following the combination treatment.ES extract demonstrated significant cytotoxic potential in HNSCC cells without affecting normal cells. It enhanced the radiosensitivity of HNSCC cells by upregulating BAX and p-MLKL expression, leading to increased cell death. These results suggest ES extract exhibits a potential radiosensitizing capacity in HNSCC.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.