Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet extract suppresses the development of colorectal cancer through downregulation of PI3K/Akt pathway

Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (BPF), a kind of Chinese medicine, has been traditionally used in treating mastitis, dysentery, phlegm nuclear, and sore swelling poison.In current study, we tried to investigate the possible anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) effects of BPF.The effects of BPF extract on human colon cancer cells HCT-116 and SW-620, and a colitis associated colorectal cancer (CACC) mouse model were evaluated using the method of experimental pharmacology combined with network pharmacology.The ethyl acetate extract 3 (EA3) of BPF showed the most potent growth inhibitory effect in CRC cells. It could inhibit the clone formation, induce the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase as well as suppress the invasion and migration of CRC cells. And EA3 prevented ICR mice against CACC effectively. Both KEGG and GO analysis indicated that EA3 may inhibit CRC through influencing PI3K/Akt pathway. Results of Western blot analysis and ELISA confirmed that the molecules in the pathway were affected by EA3.These results demonstrate that EA3 from BPF could suppress the development of CRC through inhibiting the activity of PI3K/Akt pathway.