Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), responsible for the vast majority of head and neck cancers (90–96%), remains a major global health concern. Molecular-level insight into this disease is critical for developing targeted therapies and enhancing patient care. This study explores the potential of Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre), a natural compound, as an alternative anticoagulant to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for preserving blood samples intended for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) extraction. In this prospective analysis, blood was drawn from 20 OSCC patients and stored in tubes containing either G. sylvestre or EDTA. ctDNA levels were assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that both G. sylvestre and EDTA performed comparably in preserving ctDNA yield. These findings suggest that G. sylvestre could serve as a viable, plant-based substitute for traditional chemical anticoagulants in the molecular profiling of OSCC.
