Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(5), 9976-9997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms16059976
Sasa quelpaertensis Leaf Extract Inhibits Colon Cancer by Regulating Cancer Cell Stemness in Vitro and in Vivo
1
Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea
2
National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeollabuk-do 565-851, Korea
3
Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jejusi, Jeju 690-756, Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Sanjay K. Srivastava
Received: 6 March 2015 / Revised: 22 April 2015 / Accepted: 24 April 2015 / Published: 30 April 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Phytochemicals in Functional Foods for Cancer Prevention)
Abstract
A rare subpopulation of cancer cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), may be responsible for tumor relapse and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. The development of a non-toxic, natural treatment for the elimination of CSCs is considered a strategy for cancer treatment with minimal side effects. In the present study, the potential for Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) and its two bioactive compounds, tricin and p-coumaric acid, to exert anti-CSC effects by suppressing cancer stemness characteristics were evaluated in colon cancer cells. CD133+CD44+ cells were isolated from HT29 and HCT116 cell lines using flow-activated cell sorting (FACs). SQE treatment was found to significantly suppress the self-renewal capacity of both cell lines. SQE treatment was also associated with the down-regulation of β-catenin and phosphorylated GSK3β, while significantly enhancing cell differentiation by up-regulating CK20 expression and blocking the expression of several stem cell markers, including DLK1, Notch1, and Sox-2. In vivo, SQE supplementation suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft model by down-regulating stem cell markers and β-catenin as well as HIF-1α signaling. Compared with two bioactive compounds of SQE, SQE exhibited the most effective anti-CSC properties. Taken together, these results provide evidence that SQE inhibits colon cancer by regulating the characteristics of CSCs. View Full-TextKeywords:
Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai leaf extract; colon cancer; cancer stem cells; self-renewal; differentiation
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Min, S.J.; Lim, J.Y.; Kim, H.R.; Kim, S.-J.; Kim, Y. Sasa quelpaertensis Leaf Extract Inhibits Colon Cancer by Regulating Cancer Cell Stemness in Vitro and in Vivo. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16, 9976-9997.
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