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ONCOLOGY / BASIC RESEARCH
The anti-lung cancer effect of ethyl acetate extract from Wenxia Formula in vivo via the Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling pathway mediated by cancer associated fibroblasts
1
College of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
2
Department of Medicine, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
3
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou,
Zhejiang, China
Submission date: 2020-03-03
Final revision date: 2020-05-09
Acceptance date: 2020-05-24
Online publication date: 2020-10-18
Publication date: 2026-04-30
Corresponding author
Xu-Ming Ji
School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhejiang Chinese Medical University No. 548, Binwen Road Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China Tel: +86-18615179139
School of Basic Medical Sciences Zhejiang Chinese Medical University No. 548, Binwen Road Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China Tel: +86-18615179139
Arch Med Sci 2026;22(2):1034-1044
KEYWORDS
Wenxia FormulaWFEA extractcancer associated fibroblastsultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometryHh-Gli1
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Previous research had shown that the ethyl acetate extract from Wenxia Formula (WFEA extract) had significant effects in inhibiting tumor and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). However, the anti-cancer mechanism of the WFEA extract was still unclear. In this study, we aimed to illuminate the possible anti-cancer mechanisms of the WFEA extract.
Material and methods:
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) was applied to analyze and identify the constituents of WFEA extract. The lung cancer xenograft model was conducted to explore the antitumor activity of WFEA extract by measuring tumor volume and weight, HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence assay. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to measure the expressions of related proteins and genes in the Hedgehog-Gli1 (Hh-Gli1) signaling pathway.
Results:
A total of 15 chemical constituents were identified in the WFEA extract. The xenograft model showed that WFEA extract could inhibit tumor growth and had no significant effect on body weight of mice. In addition, WFEA extract reduced the expression of a-SMA, FAP and N-cadherin in the CAF mediated lung cancer xenograft model and increased the expression of E-cadherin. Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that WFEA extract reduced the expression of related proteins and genes (Smo, Gli1 and Ptch1) in the Hh-Gli1 signaling pathway.
Conclusions:
WFEA extract had a certain inhibitory effect on lung cancer, and its mechanism may be related to the CAF mediated Hh-Gli1 signaling pathway.
Previous research had shown that the ethyl acetate extract from Wenxia Formula (WFEA extract) had significant effects in inhibiting tumor and cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). However, the anti-cancer mechanism of the WFEA extract was still unclear. In this study, we aimed to illuminate the possible anti-cancer mechanisms of the WFEA extract.
Material and methods:
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) was applied to analyze and identify the constituents of WFEA extract. The lung cancer xenograft model was conducted to explore the antitumor activity of WFEA extract by measuring tumor volume and weight, HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence assay. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to measure the expressions of related proteins and genes in the Hedgehog-Gli1 (Hh-Gli1) signaling pathway.
Results:
A total of 15 chemical constituents were identified in the WFEA extract. The xenograft model showed that WFEA extract could inhibit tumor growth and had no significant effect on body weight of mice. In addition, WFEA extract reduced the expression of a-SMA, FAP and N-cadherin in the CAF mediated lung cancer xenograft model and increased the expression of E-cadherin. Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that WFEA extract reduced the expression of related proteins and genes (Smo, Gli1 and Ptch1) in the Hh-Gli1 signaling pathway.
Conclusions:
WFEA extract had a certain inhibitory effect on lung cancer, and its mechanism may be related to the CAF mediated Hh-Gli1 signaling pathway.
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| eISSN: | 1896-9151 |
| ISSN: | 1734-1922 |
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