title: In vitro anticancer effects of insect tea in TCA8113 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insect tea is widely used a traditional drink or traditional Chinese medicine in China. This study was conducted with an aim to determine the in vitro anticancer effect of Insect tea in cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anticancer effects of Insect tea were evaluated in human tongue carcinoma TCA8113 cells using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry analysis, nuclear staining with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, and western bolt assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 200 μg/mL, Insect tea inhibited the growth of TCA8113 cells by 80.7%, which was higher than the inhibition caused by 100 μg/mL Insect tea but lower than that of 200 μg/mL green tea. Compared to the control cancer cells, Insect tea significantly (P<0.05) induced apoptosis as determined by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis results. Insect tea significantly induced apoptosis in cancer cells by upregulating BAX, CASP3, CASP9 and downregulating BCL2. Genes encoding nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were significantly downregulated by Insect tea, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties. Insect tea also exerted a great anti-metastasis effect on cancer cells as demonstrated by decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes and increased expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that Insect tea has good in vitro anticancer effects in TCA8113 cells, like green tea.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Gui-Jie
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta / Q000737:chemistry*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010641:Phenotype; D000069460:Teas, Medicinal; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases