Betulinic acid exerts immunoregulation and anti-tumor effect on cervical carcinoma (U14) tumor-bearing mice.

Abstract

Phytochemicals used in cancer therapy and prevention are an important source. Betulinic acid (BetA), a lupine-type pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin from plants, has shown anti-tumor activity in some cell lines in previous studies. In this paper, its anti-tumor effect and the possible mechanisms were investigated in U14 tumor-bearing mice. The results showed that BetA (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) effectively suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Compared with the control group, BetA significantly improved the levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in tumor-bearing mice and increased the number of CD4+ lymphocytes subsets, as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Furthermore, treatment with BetA induced cells apoptosis in dose-dependent manner in tumor bearing mice, and inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and Ki-67 protein while upregulated the expression of caspase-8 protein. The mechanisms by which BetA exerted anti-tumor effects might involve the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. This process is also related to improvement of body's immune response.

• Authors: Peijun Wang, Qingwang Li, Kun Li, Xiaobo Zhang, Zengsheng Han, Jianjie Wang, Dawei Gao, Jian Li
• Journal: Die Pharmazie (Pharmazie) Vol. 67 Issue 8 Pg. 733-9 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 0031-7144 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 22957441 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Interleukin-2
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Pentacyclic Triterpenes
• Triterpenes
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Caspase 8
• Betulinic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Caspase 8 (biosynthesis)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Female
• Genes, bcl-2 (drug effects)
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling
• Interleukin-2 (metabolism)
• Ki-67 Antigen (biosynthesis)
• Kidney (pathology)
• Liver (pathology)
• Mice
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Neoplasms, Experimental (drug therapy)
• Pentacyclic Triterpenes
• Triterpenes (pharmacology)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, pathology)
• Betulinic Acid