title: Platycodin D exerts anti-tumor efficacy in H22 tumor-bearing mice via improving immune function and inducing apoptosis.
abstract: Platycodin D (PD), a major saponin derived and isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, exerts potent growth inhibition and strong cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines. However, the anti-tumor efficacy of PD on H22 hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to explore the anti-hepatoma activity in vivo and the underlying mechanism of PD in H22 tumor-bearing mice. The results revealed that PD could considerably suppress tumor growth with no significant side effects on immune organs and body weight. Further investigations showed that the levels of serum cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-2 (IL-2), were enhanced by PD administration. On the other hand, PD inhibited the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum of H22 tumor mice. Additionally, the observations from H&E and Hoechst 33258 staining results demonstrated that PD noticeably induced apoptosis in H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Importantly, immunohistochemical analysis showed that PD treatment increased Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 and VEGF expression of H22 tumor tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, the findings in the present investigation clearly demonstrated that the PD markedly suppressed the tumor growth of H22 transplanted tumor in vivo at least partly via improving the immune functions, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; C052617:Bcl2 protein, mouse; C108953:platycodin D