avicularin and Liver-Neoplasms

Avicularin has been found to inhibit the proliferation of HepG-2 cells in vitro in the screening of our laboratory. We intended to explain the molecular mechanism of this effect. Therefore, the combined methods of reverse molecular docking and network pharmacology were used in order to illuminate the molecular mechanisms for Avicularin against cancer.. Potential targets associated with anti-tumor effects of Avicularin were screened by reverse molecular docking, then a protein database was established through constructing the drugprotein network from literature mining data, and the protein-protein network was built through an in-depth exploration of the relationships between the proteins, and then the network topology analysis was performed. Additionally, gene function and signaling pathways were analyzed by Go bio-enrichment and KEGG Pathway.. The result showed that Avicularin was closely related to 16 targets associated with cancer, and it may significantly influence the pro-survival signals in MAPK signaling pathway that can activate and regulate a series of cellular activities and participate in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation and apoptosis.. The network pharmacology strategy used herein provided a powerful means for the mechanisms of action for bioactive ingredients.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Computational Biology; Computer-Aided Design; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Models, Molecular; Molecular Docking Simulation; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a global public health problem. Therefore, the development of novel and effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCC is considered an emergency. Avicularin, a bio‑active flavonoid from plants, has been reported to exhibit diverse pharmacological properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of avicularin in HCC and the underlying mechanism of action. Huh7 cells were treated with avicularin in a concentration‑dependent manner, and the cell proliferation was examined using a 3‑(4, 5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2, 5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay kit. The cell migration and invasion abilities were detected using wounding‑healing assays and Transwell assays. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to investigate the cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis. The activity of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB (p65), cyclooxygenase‑2 (COX‑2) and peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ (PPAR‑γ) were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses, respectively. The results indicated that avicularin treatment markedly decreased cell proliferation concentration‑dependently in HCC, and inhibited cell migration and invasion in Huh7 cells. It was also found that the treatment of avicularin markedly inhibited the G0/G1‑phase cells and decreased the accumulation of S‑phase cells in the cell cycle and induced cell apoptosis. In addition, it was confirmed that the anticancer efficacy of avicularin in HCC was dependent on the regulation of NF‑κB (p65), COX‑2 and PPAR‑γ activities. In conclusion, the findings suggested that avicularin serves an antineoplastic role in HCC and may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HCC.

Topics: Apoptosis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cyclooxygenase 2; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; NF-kappa B; PPAR gamma