Ethanol extract ofChaenomeles speciosaNakai induces apoptosis in cancer cells and suppresses tumor growth in mice.
Chaenomeles speciosaNakai is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of health-promoting effects. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects ofChaenomeles speciosaNakai. The tumor-inhibitory activity of the ethanol extract ofChaenomeles speciosaNakai (EEC) was evaluated byin vitrogrowth assays of tumor cells andin vivoH22tumor formation assays in mice. Mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA ladder assays were used to detect tumor cell apoptosis in the presence of EEC. To investigate the cellular targets of EEC, the immunomodulatory genes PD-L1, Foxp3 and TGF-β were detected in the tumor tissue using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immune responses were determined by hemolysis and lymphocyte proliferation assays. EEC markedly inhibited the proliferation of the H22cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it induced DNA fragmentation and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential.In vivo, EEC inhibited tumor growth and enhanced the immune responses in mice, while the expression of PD-L1, Foxp3 and TGF-β was inhibited in the tumor tissue. These results provide the first evidence that EEC may inhibit tumor growth by directly killing tumor cells and enhancing immune function. Thus, it is a natural source for safe anticancer medicine.
Department of Biological Therapy, Central Hospital of Handan City, Handan, Hebei 056001;
Gendong
G
Yao
Chaoqi
C
Liu
Hongqi
H
Huo
Aimin
A
Liu
Bairui
B
Lv
Can
C
Zhang
Haidong
H
Wang
Jinnong
J
Li
Lianming
L
Liao
Chaenomeles speciosa Nakai; apoptosis; cancer; immune; mitochondrial membrane potential