Effects and mechanism of flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus on breast cancer growth

Abstract

Flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus R.Br (FAC) had anticancer effects on many tumor cells. The current study was performed to evaluate the effects of FAC on human breast cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis, as well as their active mechanism. Cell viability and growth were detected using the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay in vitro. Assay of FAC on induced breast cancer mortality was counted as survival time of nude mice after breast cell line inoculation. The effect of FAC on cell invasion was investigated by an optimization assay that contains a 96-well Boyden chamber with wells precoated with BME at three different concentrations. The mechanism of its action on apoptosis and metastasis was determined by related gene detection. Proliferation of three breast cell lines was inhibited with FAC treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Survival time of nude mice with breast cancer cell inoculation also was prolonged with increasing FAC dose. Metastasis in FAC-treated breast cells was also significantly inhibited. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay demonstrated that apoptosis-related BCL-2 and caspase-9 gene expression was consistent with their phenotype change. Metastasis-related FAK and BRCA1 gene expression was inversely related to FAC treatment. Western blot analysis indicated that BCL-2 and FAK proteins were reduced, whereas caspase-9 and BRCA1 proteins were increased with a higher dose of FAC treatment. These data suggested that FAC has an important role in breast cancer growth and metastasis suppression in vitro and in vivo. Its active mechanism involves promoting programmed cancer cell death and regulates metastasis-related gene expression.

Treatment with the herbal formula Songyou Yin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma through downregulation of TGF-β1 expression and inhibition of the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway

“…SYY is a Chinese herbal formula and certain components have been recognized to be effective in the treatment of cancer (27,28). Astragaloside IV controls collagen reduction in photoaging skin by improving suppression of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway (29).…”

Anti-Aging Implications of Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi): A Well-Known Chinese Tonic

“…In nude mice inoculated with breast cancer cell line, AF prolongs the survival time, and inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner [ 140 ]. AF and an isoflavone aglycone calycosin inhibit the proliferation through arresting cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase by decreasing cyclin D1 in human erythroleukemia cell line K562 [ 141 ].…”

Effects of astragalus injection on different stages of early hepatocarcinogenesis in a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis model using rats

“…Purified AI contains 18 active ingredients, including pratensein 7- O -glucopyranoside, calycosin-7- O -β-D-glucoside, astragaloside I, astragalin, 4´-hyadroxysoflavone-7- O -β D-glucoside, pratensein, pterocarpane-3-glucoside, methylnissolin-3- O -glucoside, isomucronulatol, isorhamnetin, isorhamnetin-3- O -gentiobioside, medicarpin, 6˝-acetyl-calycosin-7D-glucoside, astragaloside V, astragaloside VI, astragaloside VII, astragaloside IV, and lrioresinol B 9 . Studies on the anticancer effects of astragalus and its main components have been performed, and abundant evidence has shown that astragalus and its main components inhibit cell proliferation, inhibit oxidative stress, and induce apoptosis in various cancer cells 10 , 11 , 12 . For example, astragalosides inhibit human colon cancer cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases 13 .…”

“…Astragalus mongholicus injection inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation by inducing G0/G1 and S phase arrest 14 . In addition, flavonoids from astragalus inhibit the development of breast cancer by promoting cancer cell apoptosis 12 . Astragaloside IV inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation by inhibiting oxidative stress and associated p38 MAPK activation 15 .…”