J Cancer Prev.  2015 Sep;20(3):185-192. 10.15430/JCP.2015.20.3.185.

Withaferin-A Inhibits Colon Cancer Cell Growth by Blocking STAT3 Transcriptional Activity

• Choi BY
• Kim BW

• KMID: 2380869
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2015.20.3.185

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Withania somnifera (known as Ashwagandha) is a medicinal plant used in the ayurvedic medicines in India. Withaferin-A, a withanolide derived from the leaf extract of W. somnifera, has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor activity against various cancer cells, such as leukemia, breast cancer and colon cancer cells.
METHODS
We investigated the anti-cancer effects of withaferin-A on the proliferation and migration of human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells. And we evaluated the effects of withaferin-A on the transcriptional activity of STAT3 and the growth of HCT116 cells in xenograft mouse tumor model.
RESULTS
In the present study, we found that withaferin-A inhibited the proliferation and migration of HCT116 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of HCT116 cells with withaferin-A attenuated interleukin-6-induced activation of STAT3, which has been implicated in the development and progression of colon cancer. To examine the effect of withaferin-A on HCT116 cells proliferation in vivo, we generated HCT116 cells xenograft tumors in Balb/c nude mice and treated the tumor bearing mice with or without withaferin-A intraperitoneally. Treatment with withaferin-A exhibited significant decrease in the volume and weight of tumors as compared to untreated controls.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that withaferin-A holds the potential to be developed as a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 for the treatment of HCT116.

Keyword

Withaferin-A; Colorectal neoplasms; STAT3 transcription factor; Heterografts

MeSH Terms

Animals
Breast Neoplasms
Colon*
Colonic Neoplasms*
Colorectal Neoplasms
HCT116 Cells
Heterografts
Humans
India
Leukemia
Mice
Mice, Nude
Plants, Medicinal
STAT3 Transcription Factor
Withania
STAT3 Transcription Factor