Anticancer effects of dihydromyricetin on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis and in vivo tumorigenicity of human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells

Mingyi Li,Yongguang Yang,Zuobiao Li,Lianggui Jiang,Wei Dai,Wen-Chu Ye

doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03356-5

Abstract

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a serious public health problem worldwide and has high morbidity and mortality. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) exhibits anticancer effect on a variety of malignancies, but its anticancer function of DHM in HCC has been unclear. The aim of this study was designed to investigate the anticancer effect of DHM on cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatoma carcinoma cells.MethodsCultured Hep3B cells were treated with different DHM concentrations, followed by cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion were examined by CCK-8, colony formation assay, wound healing, Transwell and flow cytometry, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of BCL-2, Cleaved-caspase 3, Cleaved-caspase 9, BAK, BAX and BAD were validated by western blot.ResultsDHM markedly suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion and facilitated apoptosis in Hep3B cells. Mechanistically, DHM significantly downregulated the Bcl-2 expression, and upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of Cleaved-Caspase 3, Cleaved- Caspase 9, Bak, Bax and Bad. Furthermore, in the nude mice tumorigenic model, DHM treatment greatly decreased the weight of the HCC cancers compared to the weights in control and NDP group.ConclusionsDHM could suppress cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and facilitated apoptosis in Hep3B cells. These findings could provide novel insights to develop potential therapeutic strategy for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Highlights

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and is a growing public health problem worldwide
DHM plays an important role in various biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration [13]
In vitro experiment demonstrated that DHM suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promoted apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase in melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells, HCC [14], ovarian cancer cells [10], lung cancer cells [15], myelomonocytic lymphoma cells [16], and cholangiocarcinoma cells [13, 17]

Summary

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and is a growing public health problem worldwide. Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a biologically active flavonoid compound from Ampelopsis grossedentata [7], exerts anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, and anti-acne effects [8]. This flavonoid compound has attracted considerable attention because of its strong inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer [9], ovarian cancer [10], cholangiocarcinoma, and lung cancer [11]. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a serious public health problem worldwide and has high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was designed to investigate the anticancer effect of DHM on cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatoma carcinoma cells

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Conclusion