Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Studies on the effect of Celastrus orbiculatus (Celastraceae) extract on chemosensitivity of liver cancer cells via Wnt/?-catenin pathway

Xiaobo Ding¹, Laijun Song², Yunfei Lu¹, Qiting Huang³, Chengming Jiao⁴

¹Jiangyin Hepatobiliary Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine; ²Department of Clinical Laboratory; ³Department of Hepatobiliary; ⁴Department of Administration, Jiangyin Hepatobiliary Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin 214404, Jiangsu Province, China.

For correspondence:- Chengming Jiao Email: jexa1e@163.com Tel:+86-051086581366

Accepted: 20 September 2021 Published: 31 October 2021

Citation: Ding X, Song L, Lu Y, Huang Q, Jiao C. Studies on the effect of Celastrus orbiculatus (Celastraceae) extract on chemosensitivity of liver cancer cells via Wnt/?-catenin pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(10):2077-2082 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i10.10

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of Celastrus orbiculatus extract (COE) on the chemosensitivity of liver cancer (LC) cells and its mechanism of action.

Methods: Hep G2/ADM cells in the logarithmic growth phase were assigned to a control group (no treatment for cell culture medium only) and a study group (120 μg/ml COE added to the culture medium). After 48 h of incubation, the biological responses were compared. The study group was divided into groups A and B, while control group was divided into groups C and D, with 1 μmol/L XAV939 added in groups A and C. Cell proliferation, cell invasion, cell apoptosis rate, and apoptosis protein in the four groups were evaluated.

Results: The study group showed significantly lower values in terms of cell proliferation and cell invasiveness (p < 0.05) and a higher apoptotic rate than the control group (p < 0.05)). The study group also demonstrated an elevated pro-apoptotic protein Bax level and a declined anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level. In contrast to group B, the proliferation and invasiveness of Hep G2/ADM cells in group A treated with the inhibitor, XAV939, were significantly lower (p < 0.05), while the apoptotic rate exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05). There was a rise in the level of pro-apoptotic protein, Bax, and a fall in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level in group A. Lower levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 protein were observed in the study group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with other groups, the multiplication capacity and invasiveness of cells in group A treated with COE and inhibitor XAV939 significantly declined, while the apoptotic rate increased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: COE reverses drug resistance in chemotherapy by inhibiting the expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in LC cells. Therefore, COE has potentials for use along with chemotherapeutic agents in the management of liver cancer.

Keywords: Celastrus orbiculatus, Liver cancer, Chemosensitivity, Chemotherapy, Apoptosis, Cell invasion