Acetylated xylo-oligosaccharide from Hawthorn kernels inhibits colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

The effects of acetylated xylo-oligosaccharide (AcXOS) from Hawthorn kernels on tumor cells were evaluated. In vitro, AcXOS (20 mg/mL) suppressed Hep3B and RKO tumor cells migration by 28.6 % and 56.6 %, and invasion by 68.0 % and 69.2 %, respectively. It also promoted the apoptosis of Hep3B cells and RKO cells. In vivo tumor growth assay, tumor-bearing mice with colon cancer HCT116 cells were orally administrated with AcXOS. The xenograft tumor growth was inhibited by 37.2 % after treatment with 5 % AcXOS. In tumors, AcXOS repressed the PI3K-Akt signaling, enhancing the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 by 89.4 % and 131.4 %, respectively. Furthermore, AcXOS increased levels of short chain fatty acids in mice feces and decreased mRNA levels of histone deacetylases of mice colonic epithelial cell. These findings suggest that AcXOS from Hawthorn kernels is a potential inhibitor of tumor cells and thus may be used for prevention and intervention of tumor growth.