Water extract of frankincense and myrrh inhibits liver cancer progression and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β‑catenin signaling

Lu,Xian; Mao,Jialei; Wang,Yaodong; Huang,Yonggang; Gu,Maolin

doi:10.3892/mco.2023.2673

Water extract of frankincense and myrrh inhibits liver cancer progression and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β‑catenin signaling

Authors:
- Xian Lu
- Jialei Mao
- Yaodong Wang
- Yonggang Huang
- Maolin Gu
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Affiliations: Department of Hepatic Surgery, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunshan Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215300, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunshan Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215300, P.R. China, Department of Gastroenterology, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunshan Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215300, P.R. China
Published online on: August 18, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2023.2673
Article Number: 77
Copyright: © Lu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Wnt/β‑catenin signaling is associated with epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation (EMT), which serves an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion and metastasis. Frankincense and myrrh (FM) are antitumor agents commonly used in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of water extract of FM on the progression of liver cancer cells. FM was applied to study its effects on HCC cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. In addition, western blot was used to study the protein levels associated with EMT and Wnt/β‑catenin signaling. The nuclear translocation of β‑catenin was detected by immunofluorescence assay. A non‑toxic dose of FM significantly inhibited invasion and metastasis of liver cancer cells. Furthermore, FM promoted expression of EMT marker E‑cadherin, while decreasing expression of vimentin and N‑cadherin. Finally, the protein and the nuclear staining levels of Disheveled 2 and β‑catenin were both suppressed by water extract of FM. The water extract of FM inhibited the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells and inhibited EMT by suppressing activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway.

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