Wan-Nian-Qing, a Herbal Composite Prescription, Suppresses the Progression of Liver Cancer in Mice by Regulating Immune Response

Abstract

The Wan-Nian-Qing prescription (WNQP), an herbal composite containing Ornithogalum caudatum, has been used in China for several years for cancer treatment. However, the mechanism of its pharmacological action against liver cancer is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the role of WNQP in inhibiting tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma model mice and determine its mechanism of action. We established HepG2- and SMMC-7721-xenografted tumor models in nude mice and BALB/c mice. The mice were administered WNQP for 2 weeks. The bodyweight of each mouse was monitored every day, and the tumor size was measured using vernier caliper before each round of WNQP administration. After the last dose, mice were sacrificed. The tumors were removed, lysed, and subjected to proteome profiling, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blotting. The liver, spleen, and kidney were collected for histopathological examination. The effects of WNQP against liver cancer were first systematically confirmed in HepG2- and SMMC-7721-xenografted nude mice and BALB/c mice models. WNQP inhibited tumor growth, but failed to affect bodyweight and organ structures (liver and spleen), confirming that it was safe to use in mice. In BALB/c mice, WNQP regulated immune function, inferred from the modulation of immune-related cytokines such as interleukins, interferon, tumor necrosis factors, and chemokines. Further results confirmed that this regulation occurred via the regulatory effects of WNQP on Nrf2 signaling. WNQP can inhibit the growth of HepG2- and SMMC-7721-xenografted tumors in nude mice and BALB/c mice. This effect manifests at least partially through immunomodulation mediated apoptosis.

Sporoderm‐broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum modulate hepatoblastoma malignancy by regulating RACK1‐mediated autophagy and tumour immunity

“…Animal experiments were performed as described previously. 24 Male BALB/c nude mice and BALB/c mice were purchased from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd. and were acclimatized for 1 week before the experiment. BALB/c nude mice were injected subcutaneously with 1 × 10 7 HepG2 cells, and tumours were excised when the tumour volume reached 100 mm 3 .…”

The Role of m6A RNA Methylation in Cancer: Implication for Nature Products Anti-Cancer Research

“…In addition, METTL3 and METTL14 exert oncogenic roles in AML by increasing m6A levels in MDM2 mRNA and targeting the MDM2/p53 signaling pathway ( Sang et al, 2022 ). However, the low expression of METTL3 in AML-MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells from AML patients) promotes the expression of AKT protein and upregulate the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, which ultimately leads to the enhanced adipogenesis ability of AML-MSCs and facilitates the chemoresistance of AML ( Pan et al, 2021b ).…”

“…Natural products are essential to modern medicine, such as curcumin, chrysin, cucurbitacin B, cinnamaldehyde, bruceine D, baicalein, epigallocatechin gallate, fucoidan, resveratrol, rhein, and so on. Many of which have been shown to effectively regulate the progression of cancer and enhance the anticancer effects of various anticancer drugs ( Li et al, 2020a ; Chen et al, 2020b ; Chen et al, 2021b ; Zhang et al, 2021b ; Wang et al, 2021 ). In addition, 73 percent of antibiotics, 49 percent of anticancer compounds, and 32 percent of all new drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1980 and 2012 were natural products or derivatives of them ( Newman and Cragg, 2016 ; Harvey et al, 2018 ).…”

Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Compositions and Trace Elements of Ornithogalum caudatum with Different Growth Years

“…O. caudatum contains several active compounds, including saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and terpenoids. , It has various pharmacological effects, − such as antitumor, liver protection, immune enhancement, anti-inflammatory, pain relief, and antioxidation.…”