An active molecule from Pulsatilla chinensis, Pulsatilla saponin A, induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth of human colon cancer cells without or with 5-FU

  • Authors:
    • Liming Xu
    • Guilian Cheng
    • Yi Lu
    • Shaofeng Wang
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  • Published online on: March 21, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5884
  • Pages: 3799-3802
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Abstract

Colon cancer is one of the common types of digestive malignancy. The efficacy of the first‑line chemotherapy drug for colon cancer, fluorouracil (5‑FU), remains limited in clinical settings due to poor efficacy and significant side effects. In the present study, the anticancer activity of an active compound from Pulsatilla chinensis extracts, Pulsatilla saponin A (PsA), was isolated and examined in vitro and in vivo. It was demonstrated that PsA significantly inhibited the growth of human colon cancer HT‑29 cells. This inhibitory activity was also observed when the compound was tested in a colon cancer xenograft mouse model. Additionally, the synergic antitumor effects of PsA and 5‑FU on colon cancer cells were observed. Using annexin V and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'‑deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling assays, it was demonstrated that levels of apoptosis induction in HT-29 cells treated with PsA or 5‑FU were significantly increased compared with the untreated control cells (P<0.05). Western blot analyses were then performed, and the results revealed an increase in tumor protein 53 and cleaved caspase 9, and a decrease in B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expressions in PsA and PsA + 5‑FU treated colon cancer cells compared with the vehicle‑treated (PBS) cells. In summary, PsA exhibited anticancer activity in human colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, in isolation and synergistically with 5-FU, through apoptosis induction.
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May-2017
Volume 13 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Xu L, Cheng G, Lu Y and Wang S: An active molecule from Pulsatilla chinensis, Pulsatilla saponin A, induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth of human colon cancer cells without or with 5-FU. Oncol Lett 13: 3799-3802, 2017
APA
Xu, L., Cheng, G., Lu, Y., & Wang, S. (2017). An active molecule from Pulsatilla chinensis, Pulsatilla saponin A, induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth of human colon cancer cells without or with 5-FU. Oncology Letters, 13, 3799-3802. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5884
MLA
Xu, L., Cheng, G., Lu, Y., Wang, S."An active molecule from Pulsatilla chinensis, Pulsatilla saponin A, induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth of human colon cancer cells without or with 5-FU". Oncology Letters 13.5 (2017): 3799-3802.
Chicago
Xu, L., Cheng, G., Lu, Y., Wang, S."An active molecule from Pulsatilla chinensis, Pulsatilla saponin A, induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth of human colon cancer cells without or with 5-FU". Oncology Letters 13, no. 5 (2017): 3799-3802. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.5884