Dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide inhibit Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colon cancer cell

The suppression of abnormally activated β-catenin is one of good strategies for chemoprevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. In this study, we have isolated two main compounds from root of Saussurea lappa, dehydrocostus lactone (DCL) and costunolide (CL), and investigated their anti-colorectal cancer activities. DCL and CL suppressed cylcin D1 and survivin through inhibiting nuclear translocation of β-catenin and galectin-3 that is one of coactivators of β-catenin. Furthermore, DCL and CL suppressed proliferation and survival of SW-480 colon cancer cells through inducing cell cycle arrest and cell death. Taken together, DCL and CL from root of Saussurea lappa have anti-colorectal cancer activities through inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway.