Chunyu Shi1, Qinhai Ma1, Mengyue Ren1, Dedong Liang1, Qingtian Yu1, Jiabo Luo2. 1. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China. 2. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China. Electronic address: Chinaljb@smu.edu.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The liquid oral formulation of Poria cocos polysaccharides is composed of polysaccharides of Lentinusedodes, Ganodermalucidum and Poria cocos(1:1:2), which are all fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides extracted from these fungi have been reported to exhibit an antitumor effect by modulating the immune system. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to clarify the antitumor mechanism of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocos and to further provide clinical guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the effects of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocos polysaccharides on the solid tumors formed from sarcoma 180 cells in mice were evaluated. The protein expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9in the thymus, spleen and liver tissues in the mice was determined by Western blot analysis. In addition, hematoxylin-eosin（H&E）staining and immunohistochemistry were performed on thymus, spleen and liver tissue and the positive staining rate was calculated for the three protein expression. RESULTS: The liquid oral formulation of Poriacocos polysaccharides reduced Bcl-2 protein levels and increased caspase-3 and -9 protein levels in sarcoma 180 cells. CONCLUSION: The mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of the oral liquid formulation of Poriacocos polysaccharides involved inhibition of Bcl-2 expression and activation of caspase-9 expression in sarcoma 180 cells. Furthermore, the downstream caspase-3 promoter cascade was activated and cell apoptosis was activated in sarcoma 180 cells.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The liquid oral formulation of Poria cocospolysaccharides is composed of polysaccharides of Lentinusedodes, Ganodermalucidum and Poria cocos(1:1:2), which are all fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine. Polysaccharides extracted from these fungi have been reported to exhibit an antitumor effect by modulating the immune system. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to clarify the antitumor mechanism of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocos and to further provide clinical guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the effects of an orally administered liquid containing Poriacocospolysaccharides on the solid tumors formed from sarcoma 180 cells in mice were evaluated. The protein expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9in the thymus, spleen and liver tissues in the mice was determined by Western blot analysis. In addition, hematoxylin-eosin（H&E）staining and immunohistochemistry were performed on thymus, spleen and liver tissue and the positive staining rate was calculated for the three protein expression. RESULTS: The liquid oral formulation of Poriacocospolysaccharides reduced Bcl-2 protein levels and increased caspase-3 and -9 protein levels in sarcoma 180 cells. CONCLUSION: The mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of the oral liquid formulation of Poriacocospolysaccharides involved inhibition of Bcl-2 expression and activation of caspase-9 expression in sarcoma 180 cells. Furthermore, the downstream caspase-3 promoter cascade was activated and cell apoptosis was activated in sarcoma 180 cells.