Crude extracts of Antrodia cinnamomea inhibit invasion and migration of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Abstract

A native fungus native to Taiwan, Antrodia cinnamomea is believed to be effective in preventing many diseases including apoptosis of different kinds of cancer cells like NSCLC lung cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia cancer. In this study we used the ethanol extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (EEAC) to evaluate its effects on anti‐proliferative and anti‐metastatic activity of human hepatocellular liver cancer cells HepG2 and Hep3B cells. The underlying mechanism was also conducted by Western blotting analysis. The results of MTT assay revealed non‐cytotoxic concentrations Antrodia cinnamomea dose and time‐dependently inhibited the migration of HepG2 and Hep3B cells. By gelatin zymography assay, EEAC effectively inhibited MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 activities. By Western blotting analysis, treatment with EEAC decreased phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expressions in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. EEAC also exerted an inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and inhibition of activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), c‐Fos, and c‐Jun. According to the above data, the growth inhibition of human hepatocellular liver cancer cells by EEAC was mediated by induction of migration and cell proliferation related proteins. In conclude, Antrodia cinnamomea may be a potential candidate for treating those patients with liver cancer metastasis.