Ethanol Extracts from Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. Exhibit Inhibitory Activities on Oxidative Stress Generation and Viability of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
Background: Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. is a plant belonging to Saxifragaceae family and contains various active ingredients including astilbin and bergenin. It has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to improve fever, pain, and cough. Recently, a number of Korean medical resources have been studied for cancer and inflammation treatment, but A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. has not yet been investigated. Consequently, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. (ARE) on oxidative stress and colorectal cancer using RAW264.7 and the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116.
Methods and Results: In total, 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE reduced cell viability by 38.96 ± 1.32%, and increased caspase-3 activity by 133.08 ± 3.41% in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, TUNEL signaling and the early apoptosis ratio (34.56 ± 1.67%) increased by 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE treatment. H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell death were diminished by 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE treatment through decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species).
Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of ARE against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated by apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, and H2O2-induced ROS generation and cell death are decreased by ARE treatment in RAW264.7 cells. However, further study is required to explore how ARE treatment is involved in the signaling pathway to decrease ROS.