β-Elemene regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and inhibits invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells

Heng Deng; Guo Chen; Jun Zhang

doi:10.1515/jcim-2022-0295

Article

β-Elemene regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and inhibits invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells

Heng Deng , Guo Chen and Jun Zhang

Published/Copyright: December 9, 2022

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 20 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

To study the inhibitory effect of β-elemene on invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells and its possible mechanism.

Methods

Human colon cancer HCT116 cells were treated with different concentrations of β-elemene. The proliferation inhibition rate of the cells was detected by MTT assay, cell migration rate was detected by scratched assay, and cell invasion rate was evaluated by Transwell cell invasion assay. The expressions of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin were detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expressions of Vimentin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin were detected by real-time PCR.

Results

Compared with the control group, the expressions of migration rate, invasion rate, scratch healing rate, N-cadherin, and Vimentin protein of HCT116 cells were decreased after β-elemene treatment, while the expression of E-cadherin protein was increased, and the inhibition rate of cell proliferation was increased (p<0.05).

Conclusions

β-Elemene may inhibit cell proliferation and invasion and metastasis by inhibiting EMT signaling pathway in human colon cancer cell line HCT116.

Keywords: β-elemene; colorectal cancer; epithelial-mesenchymal transformation; invasion and metastasis

Corresponding author: Jun Zhang, Chinese Medicine Teaching and Research Section, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, No. 300, Shouchun Road, Hefei, P.R. China, E-mail: Zhangjun98765432@163.com

Funding source: Research Project of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2021efylc02

Funding source: Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2008085QH388

Research funding: Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province — Study on β-elemene against colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis based on exosome-mediated microRNA information transmission mechanism (NO.2008085QH388); Clinical Research Project of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine -β-elemene inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer (No.2021efylc02).
Author contributions: All authors have accepted respon-sibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: No applicable.
Ethical approval: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.

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Received: 2022-08-04

Accepted: 2022-11-29

Published Online: 2022-12-09

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2022-0295

Keywords for this article

β-elemene; colorectal cancer; epithelial-mesenchymal transformation; invasion and metastasis