In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2015;15(7):905-15. doi: 10.2174/187152061507150713111557.

Abstract

Flavokawain A is a chalcone that can be found in the kava-kava plant (Piper methsyticum) extract. The kava-kava plant has been reported to possess anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The state of the immune system, and the inflammatory process play vital roles in the progression of cancer. The immunomodulatary effects and the anti-inflammatory effects of flavokawain A in a breast cancer murine model have not been studied yet. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the basic mechanism as to how flavokawain A regulates and enhance the immune system as well as impeding the inflammatory process in breast cancer-challenged mice. Based on our study, it is interesting to note that flavokawain A increased the T cell population; both Th1 cells and CTLs, aside from the natural killer cells. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 were also elevated in the serum of flavokawain A-treated mice. Apart from that, flavokawain A also decreased the weight and volume of the tumor, and managed to induce apoptosis in them. In terms of inflammation, flavokawain A-treated mice had reduced level of major pro-inflammatory mediators; NO, iNOS, NF-KB, ICAM and COX-2. Overall, flavokawain A has the potential to not only enhance antitumor immunity, but also prevents the inflammatory process in a cancer-prone microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chalcone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Chalcone / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / drug therapy*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / immunology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-2
  • flavokawain A
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Chalcone
  • Interferon-gamma