Abstract
Polygonum perfoliatum L. belongs to the genus Polygonaceae and has a long history to be used as a Chinese medicinal herb to reduce swelling, control body temperature, and promote detoxification. However, its anticancer activity and mechanisms of action have not been evaluated yet. In the present study, we used several cell lines and xenograft models from different cancers to demonstrate the broad-spectrum anticancer activity of P. perfoliatum L as well as its underlying mechanisms of action in vitro and in vivo. The ethyl acetate extract of P. perfoliatum L showed good anticancer activity and was further fractioned to obtain five active components, including PEA to PEE. Among these fractions, PEC showed the strongest cytotoxicities against various cancer cell lines. It was further observed that PEC inhibited cancer cell growth, arrested cells at G2 phase, and induced apoptosis in vitro and suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, PEC decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and micro-vascular density (MVD) in tumor tissues in vivo. It also promoted the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes, increased the activities of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), enhanced the secretion of interleukin 2 (IL-2) by spleen cells, and raised the levels of IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies in tumor-bearing mice in vivo, which were at least partially responsible for the anticancer activity of PEC. In summary, PEC has shown broad-spectrum anticancer activities without causing any host toxicity in vitro and in vivo and may be developed as a preventive and therapeutic agent against human cancer. Further studies are urgently needed to determine the anticancer compounds in PEC and their detailed molecular mechanisms.
Highlights
Polygonum perfoliatum L. is a Chinese herb with high medicinal value and considered to have antipyretic and detoxification properties
This study revealed that high dose PEC could significantly enhance the activity of Natural Killer Cells (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in S-180 tumor-bearing mice and showed a dose-effect relationship
We demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of PEC as well as its mechanisms of action
Summary
Polygonum perfoliatum L. is a Chinese herb with high medicinal value and considered to have antipyretic and detoxification properties. It is used as a traditional Chinese medicine due to its ability to reduce swelling, control body temperature, and promote detoxification. Antitumor Effects and Mechanisms of PEC and triterpene acids were identified as the active components that are responsible for the medicinal attributes of P. perfoliatum L [4]. The ethyl acetate extract showed the strongest activities among the four crude extracts and was further chromatographed and evaluated, resulting in the most active component PEC. We further investigated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities effects of PEC and the underlying mechanisms
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
