ABSTRACT
Among the most common antitumor drugs used in the treatment of colon cancer are 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (5-FU and OXA). However, both these drugs have many side effects, and hence there is a need for new treatment\approach to reduce the side effects aas well as drug concentration. In this context, here, we investigated the effect of addition of protocatechuic acid (PCA) onto either monotherapies or combination therapies of 5-FU and OXA on the human colon cancer (Caco-2) cell line. In addition, we did evaluate the synergistic effect of PCA with 5-FU and OXA. Further, we determined the suppressive effects of different doses of PCA alone or in combination with 5-FU/OXA on cell proliferation after 24 and 48 hours. We identified a suppressive effect of PCA on cell viability at 48 h starting from the dose of 50 µM Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 gene expression levels and apoptotic effects showed significant increases and decreases depending on the dose and time applied in the experimental groups. The highest synergistic activity was seen at 2:1 concentration of 5-FU+ PCA. Our findings indicate the presence of the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of PCA in Caco-2 cells at 48 h, increasing with a dose- and time-dependent manner.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the anti‐metastatic effect and mechanism of baicalin on the growth of HeLa cells was measured by MTT assay ,and cell migration baicalin on human cervical cancer HeLa cells .Methods The effects of baicalin on the proliferation and invasion of HeLa cells were analyzed by MTT method and Transwell assay .Moreover ,Real‐time PCR was used for investigating the expressions of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 at the RNA level .Western blot was used for investigating the expressions of MMP‐2 ,MMP‐9 ,P38 and p‐P38 at the protein level .Results Baicalin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells in the dose‐dependent manner at the concentration above 60 μg/mL . Anti‐metastatic signaling induced by baicalin was characterized by down‐regulating the RNA and protein expressions of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 ,and down‐regulating the phosphorylation level of P38 . Pre‐treatment of P38 signal pathway inhibitor could enhance the inhibitory effect of baicalin on the expressions of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 .Conclusion These results indicate that baicalin‐induced anti‐metastatic effect involves the inhibition of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in HeLa cells through P38 signal pathway .
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Okam on asthmatic mice.Methods The mice model of asthma was established with the egg albumen sensitization, and were treated with low and large doses of Okam for four weeks.The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed.Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the contents of matrix metalloproteinases-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the lung tissues.Results Gasp and inflammation in the lung tissues were significantly relieved in the test groups than that in the model group.MMP-9,TIMP-1 and MMP- 9/TIMP-1 ratios were significantly lowered in the test group than that in the model group. Conclusion The marine drug of Okam shows therapeutic effects on mice with asthma,which may be the result of reduced contents of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the lung tissues and the correction of the imbalanced MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio.Okam is likely to be a new choice for the treatment of asthma.