Objective: To observe the inhibiting effect of Cordyceps extract on the growth of colon cancer cell lines in vitro and its mechanism.
Methods: MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibiting effect of Cordyceps extract on the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Report Gene was used to evaluate the relative NF-kappaB activity of the SW480 cells which were transfectd by pNF-kappaB-TA-Luc report gene. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the content of IkappaBalpha in SW480 cells.
Results: Cordyceps extract could inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 and SW480 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Report gene showed that TNF-alpha enhance the activation of NF-kappaB in SW480 cells and Cordyceps extract Could decrease the activation of NF-kappaB induced by TNF-alpha in SW480 cells. Western blot analysis showed that TNF-alpha can induce the degradation of IkappaBalpha of SW480 cells and Cordyceps extract can inhibit it.
Conclusion: Cordyceps extract can inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells through inhibiting the degradation of lkappaBalpha in the cell and inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB.