title: Betulinic acid exerts immunoregulation and anti-tumor effect on cervical carcinoma (U14) tumor-bearing mice.
abstract: Phytochemicals used in cancer therapy and prevention are an important source. Betulinic acid (BetA), a lupine-type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin from plants, has shown anti-tumor activity in some cell lines in previous studies. In this paper, its anti-tumor effect and the possible mechanisms were investigated in U14 tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that BetA (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) effectively suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Compared with the control group, BetA significantly improved the levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in tumor-bearing mice and increased the number of CD4+ lymphocytes subsets, as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Furthermore, treatment with BetA induced cells apoptosis in dose-dependent manner in tumor bearing mice, and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and Ki-67 protein while upregulated the expression of caspase-8 protein. The mechanisms by which BetA exerted anti-tumor effects might involve the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. This process is also related to improvement of body's immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peijun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qingwang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zengsheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jianjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053181:Caspase 8; D000094062:Betulinic Acid