title: Asiatic acid inhibits lung cancer cell growthin vitroandin vivoby destroying mitochondria.
abstract: Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpene found inCentella asiatica, displays significant anti-proliferative effects on cancer cellsin vitroalthough the underlying mechanism of this effect remains unknown. This study investigated the efficacy and mechanism of action of AA against lung cancer bothin vivoandin vitro. Using the MTT assay, AA was found to induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, an effect enhanced by pretreatment with an autophagy inhibitor. It also elevated expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and decreased the expression of p62. Furthermore, exposure to AA resulted in collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting mitochondria are the target of AA. In the mouse lung cancer xenograft model, oral administration of AA significantly inhibited tumor volume and weight accompanied by significant apoptosis of lung cancer cells. In addition, it led to a significant decrease in the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In summary, the results show that AA significantly reduces lung cancer cell growth bothin vitroandin vivoand that the associated apoptosis is mediated through mitochondrial damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China.
authors.forename: Tiancong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China.
authors.forename: Xixu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: Apoptosis; Asiatic acid; Lung cancer; Mitochondria; Reactive oxygen species