Experimental Study on Antitumor Effects of Total Glycoside of Cimicifuga dahurica Maxim.

Objective To investigate the antitumor effects of total glycoside of Cimicifuga dahurica (TGCD) in vivo and in vitro, and further explore its mechanisms. Methods The anti-tumor activity in vitro was determined by MTT assay and the anti-tumor activity in vivo was evaluated using experimental mouse tumor (S180) model and human tumor (A549) xenografts in nude mice. After treatment, A549 cell apoptosis and morphologic change were evaluated by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry and HE staining. Results Inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of TGCD on A549, HepG2, HL60, Eca-109 and MDA-MB231 cells were 20.3, 27.1, 21.2, 23.4 and 32.7 μg/mL respectively. Administration of TGCD (100 or 200 mg/kg) inhibited S180 solid tumor development in mice, the inhibition rates were 42.8% and 54.6% respectively. Administration of TGCD (100 or 200 mg/kg) inhibited A549 tumor growth with a T/C (mean value of treated group/mean value of control group) value of 58.1% and 52.2% respectively. In addition, increased percentage of apoptotic cells induced by TGCD in human A549 nude mice xenografts and the histopathological changes including cell shrinkage and condensation of chromosomes were observed. Conclusion TGCD has demonstrated antitumor bioactivity both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to its effects of inducing apoptosis activity.