Euscaphic acid inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by silencing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Rubus alceaefolius Poir. has been used for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China for many years. Euscaphic acid is an active component of Rubus alceaefolius Poir. However, the mechanism of action of euscaphic acid in NPC remains unclear. In this study, Euscaphic acid inhibited the proliferation of NPC cells, induced apoptosis, and led to cell cycle arrest in the G1/S phase. In addition, euscaphic acid inhibited the expression of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) p-mTOR in NPC cells. The activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by IGF-1 promoted cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in NPC cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that euscaphic acid reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in NPC cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.