Scutellarin ameliorates colitis-associated colorectal cancer by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade

Dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Scutellarin, a flavonoid compound in Scutellaria barbata, has been reported to suppress CRC, with the action mechanism elusive. In this study, Scutellarin was found to inhibit the carcinogenesis of colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in mice caused by azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium, with alleviation of pathologic symptoms. Besides, Scutellarin attenuated mouse serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6, heightened Bax expression and diminished B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) level in CAC tissues of mice, through down-regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade. In CRC HT-29 cells, Scutellarin retarded the proliferation and migration, induced apoptosis, with boosted Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 level, which may be attributed to its repression of Wnt/β-catenin signals in HT-29 cells. Our findings demonstrate that Scutellarin may ameliorate colitis-associated colorectal cancer by weakening Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade.