Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Oil Elicits Autophagy and Apoptosis in Human Laryngeal Tumor Cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Title:Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Oil Elicits Autophagy and Apoptosis in Human Laryngeal Tumor Cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Volume: 21 Issue: 18

Author(s): Yun’e Bai*, Jing Hou , Xiao T. Zhang, Jian P. Gao and Jiang T. Zhou*

Affiliation:

• School of Pharmaceutical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province,China

• School of Pharmaceutical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province,China

Keywords: Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed oil, laryngeal cancer cell, autophagy, apoptosis, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, herbal medicine.

Abstract:

Background: Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed oil (ZBSO) is the main extract of the edible drug Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds. Recent reports have proved that it has a significant cytotoxic effect on various cancer cells. However, systematic investigation on the role of ZBSO in laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is rare.

Objective: The aim of the study was to reveal the function of ZBSO on human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cells (Hep-2) and to elucidate its underlying mechanism.

Methods: In this study, the chemical composition analysis of ZBSO was done using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), and the anti-tumor effect of ZBSO on Hep-2 cells was evaluated by cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle experiments. qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting were used for mechanistic investigation at the molecular level.

Results: The main compound of ZBSO was identified as polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, as compared to normal cells, significant inhibitory activities of ZBSO were observed on Hep-2 cells with dose- and timedependency, which induced apoptosis, blocked cell cycle at the S phase, and inhibited cell proliferation. In addition, IHC results showed a difference in the level of protein expression of ZBSO-induced autophagy-related markers. At last, Western blotting results indicated that ZBSO could inhibit the expression and phosphorylation levels of PI3K/AKT/mTOR protein.

Conclusion: The anti-LC effect of ZBSO might be intimately associated with the induction of autophagy and the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. ZBSO may be a potential anti-laryngocarcinoma agent.

Cite this article as:

Bai Yun’e *, Hou Jing , Zhang T. Xiao , Gao P. Jian and Zhou T. Jiang *, Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Oil Elicits Autophagy and Apoptosis in Human Laryngeal Tumor Cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2021; 21 (18) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520621666210401103820