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2000
Volume 25, Issue 17
  • ISSN: 1871-5206
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5992

Abstract

Background

Esophageal cancer is a highly lethal cancer with a rapidly increasing incidence and a poor prognosis. Atractylenolide I is a natural sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the rhizome of the plant, which has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. Still, its impact on esophageal cancer has not been reported. Therefore, this study investigated the and effects of Atractylenolide I on the growth and proliferation of esophageal cancer and explored its possible mechanisms.

Methods

To evaluate the effect of atractylenolide I on esophageal cancer cells, apoptosis assay and cell cycle assay tests were performed. Atractylenolide I was used to treat esophageal cancer cells for 48 hours, and flow cytometry detects apoptosis and cell cycle. The Wnt/β-catenin-related pathway proteins were then detected by Western blotting. For studies, an esophageal cancer graft tumor model was established subcutaneously in BALB/c nude mice, which were given Atractylenolide I treatment for 2 weeks.

Results

The result shows that Atractylenolide I inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma cells. Further research shows that Atractylenolide I inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, decreased the expression of CCND1, MYC, and FN1 genes, and thus increased the apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells and blocked the cell cycle in G/G phase, hence exerting the role of inhibiting esophageal cancer cells and .

Conclusion

This study indicates that Atractylenolide I is an efficient lead compound for the treatment of esophageal cancer, providing a theoretical basis for further clinical development and application of Atractylenolide I.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
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2025-09-06

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/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206366543250213071529
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Atractylenolide I Inhibits the Growth of Esophageal Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents) 25, 1323 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0118715206366543250213071529
/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206366543250213071529
/content/journals/acamc/10.2174/0118715206366543250213071529
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): apoptosis; Atractylenolide I; cell cycle; esophageal cancer; western blotting; Wnt/β-catenin

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