Ursolic acid inhibits tumor angiogenesis and induces apoptosis through mitochondrial-dependent pathway in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumor.
Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpene naturally occurring in many plant foods. In the present study, we investigated anti-cancer activity of UA in vivo in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor. 15 × 10(6) EAC cells were implanted intraperitoneally (i.p., ascitic tumor) and subcutaneous (s.c., solid tumor) in Swiss albino mice. Mice with established tumors received UA i.p. at 25, 50 and 100mg/kg bw for 14 d in ascitic and 100mg/kg bw in solid tumor for 30 d. On day 15, blood samples were collected for hematological assessment of hemoglobin (Hb%), RBCs, WBCs and PCV. Tumor volume, cell viability, angiogenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory factors and antioxidant parameters were determined. Immunohistochemistry analysis for VEGF, iNOS, CD31, caspase-3 and Bax were also performed. UA significantly inhibited tumor growth, cell viability, in both ascites and solid tumor model in vivo (p<0.001). The anti-angiogenic effects were accompanied with decreased VEGF, iNOS, TNF-α and increased IL-12 levels. UA at 100mg/kg bw dose significantly increased SOD and CAT activity (p<0.01). GSH and TBARS were increased as compared to control group (p<0.001). Furthermore, UA increased total RBCs, WBCs as well as Hb% significantly (p<0.05) compared to cyclophosphamide (CP). Histopathological examination of tumor cells in the treated group demonstrated signs of apoptosis with chromatin condensation and cell shrinkage. Decreased peritoneal angiogenesis showed the anti-angiogenic potential. UA downregulated VEGF & iNOS expression whereas bax and caspase-3 expressions were upregulated suggesting drug induced tumor cell apoptosis through activating the pro-apoptotic bcl-2 family and caspase-3 and downregulation of VEGF. The present study sheds light on the potent antitumor property of the UA and can be extended further to develop therapeutic protocols for treatment of cancer.
Camel Biomedical Research Unit, College of Pharmacy and Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: saritasaraswati@gmail.com.
Sarita
S
Saraswati
S S
SS
Agrawal
Abdulqader A
AA
Alhaider
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014315:Triterpenes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
CD31; Caspase-3; Ehrlich ascites carcinoma; Ursolic acid; VEGF