Anticancer effects of methanol extract of Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc. leaves against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inhibition of ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways

Ju,Anna; Cho,Young-Chang; Kim,Ba Reum; Lee,Sewoong; Le,Hien Thi Thu; Vuong,Huong Lan; Cho,Sayeon

doi:10.3892/ijo.2017.4178

Anticancer effects of methanol extract of Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc. leaves against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inhibition of ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways

Authors:
- Anna Ju
- Young-Chang Cho
- Ba Reum Kim
- Sewoong Lee
- Hien Thi Thu Le
- Huong Lan Vuong
- Sayeon Cho
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Affiliations: Laboratory of Molecular and Pharmacological Cell Biology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Published online on: October 24, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2017.4178
Pages: 201-210

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Abstract

Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc., a member of the Rubiaceae family, is found throughout Southeast Asia and has been traditionally used to treat cancer. However, there is limited pharmacological information on this plant. We investigated the anticancer effects of the methanol extract of Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc. leaves (MMPL) and determined the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of MMPL on metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. MMPL dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion in SK‑Hep1 and Huh7 cells. In addition, MMPL strongly suppressed the enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‑2 and MMP‑9). Diminished telomerase activity by MMPL resulted in the suppression of both telomerase activity and telomerase-associated gene expression. The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression as well as the phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were also attenuated by MMPL. The above results collectively suggest that MMPL has anticancer effects in HCC and that MMPL can serve as an effective therapeutic agent for treating human liver cancer.

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