Antitumor Activity of Rutaecarpine in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells by Suppression of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

J Nat Prod. 2022 May 27;85(5):1407-1418. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00224. Epub 2022 May 11.

Abstract

Alkaloids derived from natural products have been traditionally used to treat various diseases, including cancers. Rutaecarpine (1), a β-carboline-type alkaloid obtained from Evodia rutaecarpa, has been previously reported as an anti-inflammatory agent. Nonetheless, its anticancer activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. In the procurement of Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors from natural alkaloids, 1 was found to exhibit activity against the Wnt/β-catenin-response reporter gene. Since the abnormal activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is highly involved in colon carcinogenesis, the antitumor activity and molecular mechanisms of 1 were investigated in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The antiproliferative activity of 1 was associated with the suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin-mediated signaling pathway and its target gene expression in human CRC cells. 1 also induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, and the antimigration and anti-invasion potential of 1 was confirmed through epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarker inhibition by the regulation of Wnt signaling. The antitumor activity of 1 was supported in an Ls174T-implanted xenograft mouse model via Wnt target gene regulation. Overall, these findings suggest that targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by 1 is a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of human CRC harboring β-catenin mutation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Mice
  • Quinazolines
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Indole Alkaloids
  • Quinazolines
  • beta Catenin
  • rutecarpine